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

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."

How to use cocky

Learner’s notes

In 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

cockier comparative, cockied past tense, cockies plural, cockies singular, cockiest superlative

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He was _____ after his first win and underestimated his next opponent.

From "cock" (a rooster, seen as a strutting, self-important bird) plus the adjective-forming suffix "-y."

rocky stocky Jabberwocky

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.