lookie-loo

noun

look·​ie-loo ˈlu̇-kē-ˈlü 

variants or looky-loo

plural lookie-loos or looky-loos

US, informal + often disparaging

: a person who looks at something: such as

a

: a person who goes somewhere or stops to look at something (such as the scene of an accident) : an intrusively curious onlooker

—usually plural

… to discourage the thousands of lookie-loos who once jammed the street to get a glimpse of the murder scene.

—David W. Myers

b

: a person who looks at something for sale without intending to buy it

And how should you get your old house ready for "looky-loos" as well as the serious buyers?

—Roger Showley

Examples of lookie-loo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The result brought out lookie-loos, amateur videographers and anxious residents to witness wave after punishing wave slam into the wooden boardwalk, breaking it apart in places and sending plumes of salt water three stories high. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Balancing single broadcasts for both dedicated fanatics and casual lookie-loos remains a challenge, particularly for companies like Netflix that don’t have a whole season to work with. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Thus, there are fewer lookie-loos, who really don’t intend to bid. — Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2026

This leads to another unfortunate confrontation with a Bowden parent, as Tom drags Cady into the street and beats him up in full view of lookie-loos with phone cameras. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 10 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lookie-loo

• amadou
• avenue
• ballyhoo
• baraboo
• barbecue
• barbeque
• bugaboo
• cabildo
• caribou
• cockatoo
• detinue
• devalue