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Definition of josh

josh

/dʒɑːʃ/
josh
Plural:joshes
•
Past Simple:joshed
•
Past Participle:joshed
•
Present Participle:joshing
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josh Lexical Profile

josh Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

North American To tease, banter, or joke with someone in a playful, good-natured way.

Example

"Relax, I am only joshing with you about having to work this weekend."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for josh

• noun

1

North American A good-natured joke, playful remark, or friendly teasing.

Example

"Everyone at the dinner table knew his outrageous story was just a harmless josh."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for josh

• Rhymes for josh

• Nearby Words

joseph's coat
josephine
josephine falls
josh
jostaberry
jostle
jot

Word Origin & Etymology

Originating as mid-19th-century American slang, the word is likely a playful use of the given name Josh (short for Joshua) or a blend of 'joke' and 'bosh'.

Cite this Entry

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