Busybody

/ˈbɪzibɑːdi/ noun

Definition

A person who is overly interested in other people's affairs and meddles or pries into things that aren't their business.

Etymology

Compound word from 'busy' and 'body,' meaning a body or person who is always busy—but specifically busy with other people's concerns. The term emerged in the 1600s as a way to describe gossipy or nosy people.

Kelly Says

Every small town has a busybody character who somehow knows everyone's business, and interestingly, before smartphones and social media made everyone a potential busybody, these gossiping connectors actually served a real social function in communities!

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