In humans, shyness (also called diffidence) is a social psychology term used to describe the feeling of apprehension, lack of comfort, or awkwardness experienced when a person is in proximity to, approaching, or being approached by other people, especially in new situations or with unfamiliar people. Shyness may come from genetic traits, the environment in which a person is raised and personal experiences. There are many degrees of shyness. Stronger forms are usually referred to as social anxiety or social phobia. Shyness may merely be a personality trait or can occur at certain stages of development in children. Shyness has also a strong cultural dimension.

In biology, shy generally means "tends to avoid human beings"; See crypsis. Shyness in gorillas manifests with ostensibly similar behavioral traits, but differs wholly from humans in cognition and motivation.

Adjective

shy (comparative shier or shyer, superlative shiest or shyest)

1. Easily frightened; timid.

   a shy bird.

2. Reserved; coy; disinclined to familiar approach.

   He is very shy with strangers.

3. Cautious; wary; suspicious.
4. Short, insufficient or less than.

   By our count your shipment came up two shy of the bill of lading amount.

   It is just shy of a mile from here to their house.

5. Embarrassed.

• Often used in combination with a noun to produce an adjective or adjectival phrase.
• Adjectives are usually applicable to animals (leash-shy "shy of leashes" or head shy "shy of contact around the head" (of horses)) or to children.

• Shyness - Are You Shy?
  cyh.com
  [ ] - Learn what it is, how people become shy, what it feels like, good things about being shy, and how to become more confident.
• Shyness
  kidshealth.org
  [ ] - Learn how to be less shy. Also find out why being shy is sometimes a good thing.
• Shykids.com: Teens
  shykids.com
  [ ] - Provides resources and information about shyness for teens. Includes books, Q and A, exploring talents, making friends, and building confidence.