What does somebody mean?
Somebody is an indefinite pronoun used to refer to a person who has not been named or identified. It often appears when a speaker does not know who performed an action, as in "somebody called," or when speaking about a person whose identity is irrelevant or cannot be specified. The word is frequent in everyday speech and informal writing, while someone is often preferred in formal or editorial contexts. Somebody can also function as a noun meaning an important or notable person, as in the phrase "he was somebody." This secondary sense gives the word a slightly grander, more emphatic tone than the basic indefinite reference. Although some expressions involving somebody can sound old-fashioned or conversational, the word remains widely understood and natural in modern English.
An indefinite pronoun referring to a person who is not specified or identified.
"Somebody was waiting outside."
Common in informal and conversational English; someone is more typical in formal prose.
A person regarded as important, notable, or of some distinction.
"She was somebody long before the national attention arrived."
This sense is less frequent and often sounds somewhat formal or rhetorical.
Somebody is both an ordinary word and a reminder that the people around us may matter more than we realize.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does somebody come from?
Somebody is a compound formed in Middle English from some and body. The word reflects an older pattern in which body could stand for a person, as it still can in expressions such as "a poor body." The compound became established in English during the Middle English period and developed alongside variants such as someone. Its modern use preserves the contrast between an unspecified individual and the more particular references someone, somebody, and no one help create in context.
How somebody is actually used
Somebody is especially common in informal speech and writing. Someone is usually more neutral or formal in careful prose, while anybody and anyone are often used in questions and negative contexts. The expression "somebody" can imply that a person has social importance or a strong reputation.