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Definition of nellie

nellie

/ˈnɛl.i/
nel · lie
Plural:nellies
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nellie Lexical Profile

nellie Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

British A foolish, silly, or overly anxious person (often used in phrases like 'nervous nellie' or 'silly nellie').

Example

"Don't be such a nervous nellie about speaking in front of the committee."

2

A large predatory seabird of the Southern Ocean (genus Macronectes, family Procellariidae), commonly known as the giant petrel, characterized by dark or white plumage and a massive hooked bill.

Example

"The sailors watched a giant nellie gliding effortlessly behind the fishing vessel in the subantarctic waters."

3

Australian In Australian slang, cheap, low-quality wine.

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for nellie

• Nearby Words

neighborly
neillia
neither
nellie
nelly
nelson
nelson falls

Word Origin & Etymology

Originally a diminutive pet form of the female given names Helen, Eleanor, or Cornelia, formed in the 18th century by adding the diminutive suffix -ie to Nell.

Cite this Entry

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