# Jessie

/ˈdʒɛsi/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jessie
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a weak or cowardly man

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Informal · Dialect

a man who is considered weak, soft, or easily scared.

For teachers: a derogatory term for a man perceived as weak, effeminate, or cowardly. Often used as a mild to moderate insult in British and Australian dialects.

- He was called a jessie by his friends because he didn't want to go on the scary ride.
- The older boys teased him for being a jessie when he refused to jump into the freezing lake with the rest of the group.

Usage: Usually used as a countable noun, often preceded by 'a bit of a'.

Teaching tip: This term is specifically British/Australian and can be seen as offensive or sexist because it equates 'feminine' traits with weakness.

## Examples

- Don't be such a jessie, just jump in the water.
- His friends called him a jessie because he refused to go on the fastest roller coaster at the park.

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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.