bossier; bossiest
: inclined to domineer : dictatorial
bossiness noun
1
: marked by a swelling or roundness
2
: marked by bosses : studded

bossy

3 of 3

noun

plural bossies
: cow, calf

Examples of bossy in a Sentence

Adjective (1) I don't want to work with him because he's so bossy and always runs roughshod over me
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Sybil was hotelier Basil Fawlty’s acerbic and bossy wife, who argued frequently with Basil and was often the subject of his ire. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025 On the show, Scales’ bossy Sybil Fawlty and Cleese’s dysfunctional Basil Fawlty run a hotel in the town of Torquay in Devon, England. Rhett Bartlett, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025 With the aid of his bossy mom Audrey (a delectable Amanda Redman) who comes to live with him and his two dachshunds, Daniel turns into an amateur sleuth and comes up with red herrings and clues aplenty pertaining to World War II history, secrets, trysts and even paintings. Randy Myers, Mercury News, 10 Oct. 2025 On the second take, Russell’s bossy tone rubbed up nicely against the neediness of the moment. Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bossy

Word History

Etymology

Noun

boss entry 6

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

1882, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (2)

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1843, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bossy was in 1543

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bossy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bossy. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

bossy

adjective
ˈbȯ-sē
bossier; bossiest
: fond of ordering people around : domineering
bossiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on bossy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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