Standard Lemma guide

Polonius

name · noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • rhymes with -əʊniəs
  • CMU ARPABET: P AH0 L OW1 N IY0 AH0 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

name

Meaning 1

A male given name of literary usage.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A busybody who makes poor judgments.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

After the character of Polonius in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Esperanto: Polonio — male given name of literary usage
  • Polish: Poloniusz — male given name of literary usage