sissy
sissy Lexical Profile
sissy Game Scores & Validity
• noun
(Informal, derogatory) A person, especially a boy or man, regarded as effeminate, timid, or cowardly.
"The older kids teased him on the playground and called him a sissy for refusing to jump off the high wall."
North American (Informal, dated or familial) A sister; often used as a term of address among family members.
"Come over here and sit by your big sissy while we read the story."
• adjective
(Informal, derogatory) Timid, cowardly, or regarded as effeminate and weak.
"He refused to play the game because he thought the rules were too sissy."
Word Nuance & Usage
When applied to a boy or man, 'sissy' is strongly derogatory and is typically used as a playground or colloquial insult implying cowardice or effeminacy.
• Rhymes for sissy
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Mid-19th century American English; formed as a diminutive of 'sis' (a shortening of 'sister'). It originally functioned as an affectionate term for a sister before shifting in the late 1800s to a derogatory label for an effeminate or timid boy.