adj
cagey
KAYD-zhee
Cagey (adj) means Careful and guarded about what you say or reveal; reluctant to share information. Example: “He got cagey when we asked about his new business partner.”
adj
1
Careful and guarded about what you say or reveal; reluctant to share information.
"He got cagey when we asked about his new business partner."
"The witness was cagey about where she had been that night."
How to use cagey
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing cautious and a bit secretive, dodging direct answers rather than lying outright.
Memory tip
Cagey people aren't necessarily hiding something bad — they're just being deliberately vague or non-committal.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
cagey about
stay cagey
a cagey answer
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Word forms
- Comparative
- cagier
- Superlative
- cagiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He got _____ when we asked about his new business partner.
Etymology
An American colloquial term of unclear origin, first recorded in the early 1900s. Some suggest a link to the wary, closed-off behavior of a caged animal, but this is only a guess.
Class of 1900
cagey joined the language around 1900.
See the full Class of 1900 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for cagey
See all rhymes for cagey →Frequently asked questions
What does “cagey” mean?
The word “cagey” means careful and guarded about what you say or reveal; reluctant to share information. In plain terms, being cautious and a bit secretive, dodging direct answers rather than lying outright.
How do you pronounce “cagey”?
“Cagey” is pronounced KAYD-zhee (/ˈkeɪd͡ʒi/ in IPA).
How do you use “cagey” in a sentence?
Here is “cagey” used in a sentence: “He got cagey when we asked about his new business partner.”
What part of speech is “cagey”?
“Cagey” is an adjective.
Where does the word “cagey” come from?
The word “cagey” dates back to around 1900. An American colloquial term of unclear origin, first recorded in the early 1900s. Some suggest a link to the wary, closed-off behavior of a caged animal, but this is only a guess.
