# boss

/ˈbɑs/ (US) · /bˈɒs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/boss
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. manager or supervisor

noun · CEFR A2

the person who is in charge of you at work and tells you what to do.

For teachers: a person who oversees and directs the work of others in a professional or organizational context.

- I need to ask my boss for a day off to go to the dentist.
- The department boss implemented a new policy regarding remote work to improve employee retention and overall morale.

### 2. video game enemy

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a very strong enemy at the end of a level in a video game.

For teachers: a significant non-player character enemy, typically encountered at the end of a stage, that is more difficult to defeat than standard enemies.

- It took me five tries to beat the final boss of the game.
- The game's final boss features multiple phases, requiring players to adapt their strategy as the enemy's attack patterns evolve.

### 3. term of address

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · British English · Dialect

a friendly or informal way to address a man, often a customer.

For teachers: an informal vocative used to address a male peer or customer, often implying a casual or respectful rapport.

- Excuse me, boss, do you have the time?
- The market trader addressed every male customer as boss, a linguistic habit intended to build quick, informal rapport.

### 4. architectural protuberance

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a raised part or lump on a surface, often used for decoration.

For teachers: a decorative or functional protuberance on a surface, such as the intersection of vaulting ribs in architecture.

- The old shield had a metal boss in the center for extra strength.
- The Gothic ceiling was adorned with intricate stone bosses where the ribs of the vault met, each carved with a unique floral motif.

### 5. to give orders

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal

to tell people what to do in a way that is annoying or too powerful.

For teachers: to exercise authoritative control over others, often in a domineering or repetitive manner.

- Stop trying to boss me around; I know how to do my job.
- She tended to boss her younger siblings around whenever their parents were out of the house, much to their annoyance.

Usage: Often used as the phrasal verb 'boss around'.

### 6. excellent

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · American English

very good or impressive.

For teachers: of excellent quality; first-rate or highly impressive.

- That new car you bought is totally boss.
- The band played a boss set last night, leaving the audience hoping for an encore that never came.

## Examples

- I need to ask my boss for a day off.
- The new boss plans to change the office layout to encourage more collaboration between departments.
- While the formal hierarchy lists him as a manager, he acts as the boss of the entire operation, overseeing every minor detail of the production line.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.