Meanings
- gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of nanny
- uncountableBehaving with an excess of protective concern.
The subject is nannying. The test of whether a regulation is nannying depends on the above condition. For example, seatbelts & helmets are nannying; 30mph residential speed limits are not nannying (though some people consider this is).
2005 August 28, DavidR, “Re: the nanny state”, in uk.rec.driving (Usenet)1 more example
On the other hand, there is far too much nannying nowadays, and probably the widespread use of anti-bacterial wipes for the kitchen, baby's highchair and everywhere else in the home is helping to spread MRSA and C-difficile in hospitals
2007 May 23, Devon Mark, “Out-of-date food in UK supermarkets”, in uk.legal (Usenet)
Cite this entry
nannying. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nannying
“nannying.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nannying. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nannying,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nannying.
Source: nannying on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.