nosey

Everyone is curious sometimes, but when someone is nosey, it goes beyond normal interest. A nosey person tries to find out things about other people's lives, often private things, even when it is not their business. It is usually seen as rude and unwelcome, not friendly. You might call a neighbor nosey if she asks too many questions about your visitors or tries to listen to your conversations. Be careful what you share around a nosey person, or the whole town may hear about it before long.

The word "nosey" describes someone who is excessively curious about the personal affairs of others. It implies an unwelcome and often intrusive interest in details that aren't their concern. While curiosity itself isn't bad, nosiness crosses a line into prying or meddling.

Historically, the idea behind "nosey" comes from imagining someone literally sticking their "nose" where it doesn't belong—sniffing around for information! It is an alternative spelling of the word "nosy"; both are used interchangeably, though "nosy" is more common in modern dictionaries.

You might describe a coworker as nosey if they constantly ask about your salary or personal life. A nosey neighbor might try to look through your windows or read your mail. The context usually suggests an overstepping of boundaries. It's important to note that being nosey isn't necessarily malicious; the person may simply lack social awareness or boundaries. However, it is generally viewed as a negative trait.

For example: "Old Man Hemlock was known as the nosiest man on the block," or "I try to avoid talking about my relationship with Sarah around Mark—he's terribly nosey." So, if someone seems overly interested in your private life and won't let things go, they might just be a little… nosey.