adjective

Dicky

DIH-kee

Dicky (adjective) means In poor or unreliable condition; shaky, unsound. Example: “He’s had a dicky knee ever since the accident.”

adjective

In poor or unreliable condition; shaky, unsound.

"He’s had a dicky knee ever since the accident."

"The old car has a dicky engine that stalls in traffic."

noun

A small bird, especially in the informal phrase "dicky-bird."

"A little dicky landed on the windowsill."

How to Use Dicky

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDescribes something weak, unreliable, or likely to fail — often used for body parts or machinery.

When to use it

Informal, chiefly British.

Common pairings

a dicky heart a dicky knee dicky-bird

Word Forms

dickier comparative, dickier comparative, dickies plural, dickies plural, dickiest superlative, dickiest superlative

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He’s had a _____ knee ever since the accident.

Synonyms

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shaky unsound unreliable wobbly dodgy unstable

Related Words

drunk stable loose insane reliable variable rocky explosive

Rhymes for Dicky

icky picky Ricky Nicky Vicky Micky tricky sticky chicky finicky panicky

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “Dicky” mean?

The word “Dicky” means in poor or unreliable condition; shaky, unsound. In plain terms, describes something weak, unreliable, or likely to fail — often used for body parts or machinery.

How do you pronounce “Dicky”?

“Dicky” is pronounced DIH-kee (/ˈdɪki/ in IPA).

How do you use “Dicky” in a sentence?

Here is “Dicky” used in a sentence: “He’s had a dicky knee ever since the accident.”

What part of speech is “Dicky”?

Depending on how it is used, “Dicky” can be an adjective and a noun.

How many meanings does “Dicky” have?

“Dicky” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in poor or unreliable condition; shaky, unsound.

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