adj
Uncommon
cocky
KO-kee
Cocky (adj) means Overly self-confident, boastful, or arrogant. Example: “He was cocky after his first win and underestimated his next opponent.”
adj
1
Overly self-confident, boastful, or arrogant.
"He was cocky after his first win and underestimated his next opponent."
"She has a cocky grin that some find charming and others find annoying."
"You smiling your oh-so-perfect smile and me with the biggest, cockiest grin on my face you can ever imagine. I would have been the cockiest man alive that night knowing you were going home with me."
— Melanie Harvey (2011)
How to use cocky
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFull of swagger and overconfidence, often to an annoying degree.
Common mistake
Cocky usually carries a negative edge — for confident without the arrogance, use "confident" or "self-assured" instead.
Common pairings
a cocky attitude
act cocky
cocky and confident
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Word forms
- Plural
- cockies
- Third person singular
- cockies
- Past tense
- cockied
- Comparative
- cockier
- Superlative
- cockiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He was _____ after his first win and underestimated his next opponent.
Etymology
From "cock" (a rooster, seen as a strutting, self-important bird) plus the adjective-forming suffix "-y."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for cocky
See all rhymes for cocky →Frequently asked questions
What does “cocky” mean?
The word “cocky” means overly self-confident, boastful, or arrogant. In plain terms, full of swagger and overconfidence, often to an annoying degree.
How do you pronounce “cocky”?
“Cocky” is pronounced KO-kee (/ˈkɑki/ in IPA).
How do you use “cocky” in a sentence?
Here is “cocky” used in a sentence: “He was cocky after his first win and underestimated his next opponent.”
What part of speech is “cocky”?
“Cocky” is an adjective.
Is “cocky” a common word?
“Cocky” is an uncommon word in modern English.
