What does sissy mean?
A sissy is a person described as weak, timid, cowardly, or insufficiently masculine. The word is chiefly North American and historically developed from a diminutive form associated with “sister,” but its long-standing insulting sense is now its dominant modern use. It often appears in childhood teasing, where it can shame someone for showing fear, tenderness, or vulnerability. Because such treatment can be emotionally harmful, the term is generally regarded as derogatory and may be offensive, particularly when aimed at children. In earlier usage it could also mean a little or beloved sister, though that sense is mostly historical. Although a few established compounds and phrases use the word, it is rarely appropriate in neutral or formal writing. Alternatives should be chosen according to the intended meaning: “coward” or “timid person” for someone who is afraid, and terms describing a specific quality when the broader insult is unnecessary.
nounA sissy is a person regarded as weak, timid, cowardly, or insufficiently masculine. The term is derogatory and can be especially offensive when used to target a child.
- A person regarded as cowardly or timid.
- A person regarded as weak, ineffectual, or insufficiently masculine.
"He refused to go on the ride, and his brother called him a sissy."
"Calling a child a sissy can reinforce shame about expressing fear or vulnerability."
"In the 1930s song, a grown man complains that he has become somebody's emotional sissy."
The plural is used when referring to multiple people considered weak, timid, or cowardly.
"The novel portrays the brothers as sensitive young men whom their father dismisses as sissies."
Once a diminutive associated with “little sister,” “sissy” developed into a sharply derogatory label for someone considered weak or timid.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sissy come from?
The word's detailed origin is uncertain, but it is generally treated as a diminutive associated with “sister.” It was used for a little or beloved sister before becoming an insulting label for a timid, weak, or insufficiently masculine person. The pejorative sense was established by the late nineteenth century and became especially familiar in North American informal English.
Related word forms
How sissy is actually used
This is an informal, derogatory term and is often considered insulting, especially when directed at a child. Its older, milder sense of a small or beloved sister is chiefly historical and may appear in older literature or colloquial speech.
Easily confused with sissy
A sissy is a derogatory term for a person considered weak or cowardly, whereas a cissy commonly denotes a chemical hair-straightening treatment.