Meaning & use
busybody
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Meaning
nouncountabledisapproving
A person who takes too much interest in other people's private affairs and likes to interfere or gossip.
Grammar: Countable: a busybody, two busybodies; it is a disapproving word.
Patterns
- a busybody about something
The neighborhood busybody noticed every parcel that arrived at our door.
Don't be a busybody; they didn't ask for your opinion.
My aunt is a harmless busybody who wants to know everyone's plans.
Word forms
| plural | busybodies |
|---|
Common combinations
- a nosy busybody
- A nosy busybody kept peering over the fence.
- the neighborhood busybody
- The neighborhood busybody reported the noise to the council.
- an interfering busybody
- The interfering busybody told the whole street about their quarrel.
- a village busybody
- The village busybody knew every secret in town.
- don't be a busybody
- Don't be a busybody, and let them solve it themselves.
Synonyms and how they differ
- meddler
- Meddler focuses on interfering in matters, while busybody also suggests being curious and gossipy.
- nosy parker
- Nosy parker is a British, humorous phrase that sounds lighter and more playful than busybody.
- snoop
- Snoop emphasizes secretly searching for information, while busybody emphasizes interfering openly.
- gossip
- Gossip can describe both the person and the talk, and it does not necessarily involve interfering.
Word family
Practice
A neighbor who constantly asks about your private life and comments on your decisions would most likely be called a ___.
Choose one answer.
A busybody takes too much interest in others' business. A bystander just watches, a benefactor gives help, and a bargain-hunter looks for sales.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “busybody”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.