adj B2 Upper-Intermediate

gaudy

GAW-dee

Quiz me More like this

Gaudy (adj) means Showy or overdecorated to the point of looking cheap or tasteless. Example: “She wore a gaudy gold necklace with fake gems the size of grapes.”

adj

Showy or overdecorated to the point of looking cheap or tasteless.

"She wore a gaudy gold necklace with fake gems the size of grapes."

"The hotel lobby was decorated in gaudy red-and-gold wallpaper."

noun

In British university tradition, a reunion dinner or feast held by an Oxford college for its former students.

"Alumni returned to Oxford for the annual gaudy in July."

How to use gaudy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishToo flashy or over-decorated — bright, showy, and a bit much.

Common mistake

A popular claim that "gaudy" comes from the architect Gaudí is false; the word existed long before he was born.

Common pairings

gaudy colours gaudy jewellery gaudy decorations

Vocabulary Flow

Build your vocabulary from words like gaudy.

Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.

Start vocabulary practice

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: gaudies
Comparative: gaudier
Superlative: gaudiest

Test yourself on “gaudy” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She wore a _____ gold necklace with fake gems the size of grapes.

Etymology

Traced through Middle English gaudi, ultimately from Latin gaudia ("joys"), tied to the idea of ornaments or trinkets. It is not related to the architect Antoni Gaudí — despite a common myth, the word predates him by centuries.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

View more →

bedizened blingish blatant brash campy catchpenny chichi corny chintzy crass crude flaunting

Antonyms

unadorned

Related words

bad oil camp advanced raw gross plain boring

Rhymes for gaudy

Judy Rudy study Trudy cloudy understudy

See all rhymes for gaudy →

Frequently asked questions

What does “gaudy” mean?

The word “gaudy” means showy or overdecorated to the point of looking cheap or tasteless. In plain terms, too flashy or over-decorated — bright, showy, and a bit much.

How do you pronounce “gaudy”?

“Gaudy” is pronounced GAW-dee (/ˈɡɔ.di/ in IPA).

How do you use “gaudy” in a sentence?

Here is “gaudy” used in a sentence: “She wore a gaudy gold necklace with fake gems the size of grapes.”

What is another word for “gaudy”?

Words with a similar meaning to “gaudy” include bedizened, blingish, blatant, brash, campy and catchpenny.

What is the opposite of “gaudy”?

The opposite of “gaudy” — its antonyms — is unadorned.

What part of speech is “gaudy”?

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

Where does the word “gaudy” come from?

The word “gaudy” comes from Latin.

How many meanings does “gaudy” have?

“Gaudy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: showy or overdecorated to the point of looking cheap or tasteless.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include gaudy:

B2 vocabulary words

People also searched

bad oil camp advanced raw gross plain boring