# nosy

/ˈnoʊzi/ (US) · /nˈəʊzi/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nosy
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

interested in other people's private lives or business. You use this to describe someone who asks too many questions about things that do not concern them.

For teachers: interested in or prying into the private affairs of others. Often carries a slightly negative or disapproving tone when describing a person's behavior.

## Examples

- She is very nosy and always asks about my personal life.
- The neighbors were quite nosy, asking me about the new furniture I bought last weekend.
- While some might view his curiosity as a positive trait, others found him overly nosy, as he seemed to know every detail of his colleagues' personal schedules.

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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.