Definition

Noun: 1. An informal, often derogatory term for a man or youth: It refers to a male person, typically implying the person is foolish, silly, or incompetent. 2. A stupid or incompetent fool: This meaning emphasizes a lack of intelligence or common sense.

Usage and Examples

• Referring to a foolish man:
  • Don't listen to him; he's a total bozo.
  • Some bozo cut me off in traffic this morning.
• Referring to a man in a general, informal way (less common, can be neutral or slightly dismissive):
  • He's a nice bozo, but he talks too much.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• Register: "Bozo" is a highly informal, slang term. It is inappropriate for formal writing or speech.
• Connotation: It is usually derogatory and insulting, suggesting stupidity. However, in some very casual contexts among friends, it can be used in a teasing, less harsh manner.
• Cultural Reference: The term was popularized by "Bozo the Clown," a famous clown character, which reinforces its association with foolish or silly behavior.

Variants and Related Words

• Bozo the Clown (proper noun): The specific clown character that influenced the common usage of the word.

Synonyms

• Fool
• Idiot
• Dunce
• Dope (informal)
• Nincompoop (informal)
• Blockhead (informal)

Antonyms

• Genius
• Brain (informal)
• Savant

Noun

1. an informal term for a youth or man
   • a nice guy
   • the guy's only doing it for some doll
2. a man who is a stupid incompetent fool