lookie-loo

noun

look·​ie-loo ˈlu̇-kē-ˈlü How to pronounce lookie-loo (audio)
variants or looky-loo
plural lookie-loos or looky-loos
US, informal + often disparaging
: a person who looks at something: such as
a
: a person who goes somewhere or stops to look at something (such as the scene of an accident) : an intrusively curious onlooker
usually plural
… to discourage the thousands of lookie-loos who once jammed the street to get a glimpse of the murder scene.David W. Myers
b
: a person who looks at something for sale without intending to buy it
And how should you get your old house ready for "looky-loos" as well as the serious buyers?Roger Showley

Examples of lookie-loo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Out on the sidewalk and behind barriers, lookie-loos crane their necks for a peek at the competitors, while pin traders mill through the churning crowd in hopes of making a souvenir swap. Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lookie-loo was in 1977

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lookie-loo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lookie-loo. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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