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Definition of golly

golly

/ˈɡɑː.li/
gol · ly
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golly Lexical Profile

golly Game Scores & Validity

• interjection

1

Used as a mild exclamation to express surprise, wonder, amazement, or emphasis.

Example

"Golly, I had no idea the restoration project would be finished so quickly!"

Synonyms
View all synonyms for golly

Word Nuance & Usage

In British English, 'golly' is also encountered as an offensive racial slur shortened from 'golliwog'; speakers should be mindful of this starkly different regional connotation outside North America.

• Rhymes for golly

• Nearby Words

goliath grouper
gollinger
gollinger falls
golly
gomal
gomati
gomphrena

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the mid-18th century as a minced oath and euphemistic alteration of 'God', formed to avoid profanity.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Golly. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/golly
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