owie

noun

ow·​ie ˈau̇-ē How to pronounce owie (audio)
plural owies
US, informal
: a usually minor injury (such as a bruise or a scratch)
used by or for children or in imitation of children's speech
Preschoolers are often fascinated by minor cuts and scrapes, and like to make a big deal out of them. … they love to regale friends, relatives, neighbors, and teachers with the story of their owie.Carol Sjostrom Miller
Defensive end Alex Brown, who suffered a mild shoulder injury, wandered over to the crowd around Tillman and offered his medical insights. "Are you going to ask him about how he got knocked out?" Brown asked the reporters. Tillman responded by making fun of Brown's shoulder owie.John Mullin

Examples of owie in a Sentence

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.
The next time someone in the family gets an owie, look to your kitchen, not your medicine cabinet, for relief. Jessica Girdwain, Redbook, 23 Nov. 2011

Word History

Etymology

ow + -ie

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of owie was in 1967

Dictionary Entries Near owie

Cite this Entry

“Owie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/owie. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

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