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Definition of patsy

patsy

/ˈpæt.si/
pat · sy
Plural:patsies
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patsy Lexical Profile

patsy Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American A person who is easily taken advantage of, cheated, or set up to take the blame for someone else's wrongdoing.

Example

"The low-level clerk realized too late that the executives had used him as a patsy to cover up the financial fraud."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for patsy

• Nearby Words

patronizingly
patronizingness
patronly
patsy
pattani
pattani river
pattaya

Word Origin & Etymology

Originating in late 19th-century American slang, the term is likely derived from the Southern Italian word 'pazzo' (meaning 'madman' or 'fool'), or as a pet form of the Irish given name Patrick.

Cite this Entry

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