tacky

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English

Etymology 1

From tack +‎ -y.

Pronunciation

Adjective

tacky (comparative tackier, superlative tackiest)

  1. Of a substance, slightly sticky.
    Hypernyms: see Thesaurus:adhesive
    This paint isn't dry yet; it's still a bit tacky.
Translations

Etymology 2

Sense “in poor taste” from 1888, from earlier sense meaning shabby or seedy. Also see tackey (“neglected horse”), Southern US colloquialism from 1800s, later extended to people.

Pronunciation

Adjective

tacky (comparative tackier, superlative tackiest)

  2. (colloquial) Of low quality.
    That market stall sells all sorts of tacky ornaments.
  3. (colloquial) In poor taste.
    That was a tacky thing to say.
  4. Gaudy or flashy.
    Synonyms: flashy, showy, garish
    • 1967, S. E. Hinton, The Outsiders:
      Steve Randle was seventeen, tall and lean, with thick greasy hair he kept combed in complicated swirls. He was tacky, smart, and Soda's best buddy since grade school.
  5. Shabby, dowdy in one's appearance or dress.
    Synonym: dowdy
Derived terms
Translations

Noun

tacky (plural tackies)

  1. Alternative form of tackey

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