adj
Uncommon
kinky
KIHNG-kee
Kinky (adj) means Full of tight curls or twists, especially describing hair. Example: “Her kinky curls bounced with every step.”
adj
1
Full of tight curls or twists, especially describing hair.
"Her kinky curls bounced with every step."
2
Sexually unconventional; involving unusual sexual preferences or practices.
"The novel was banned for its kinky content."
"They joked that trying a new restaurant felt oddly kinky for such creatures of habit."
How to use kinky
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither tightly curled (hair) or sexually adventurous/unconventional, depending on context.
Common pairings
kinky hair
a bit kinky
kinky sex
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Word forms
- Comparative
- kinkier
- Superlative
- kinkiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her _____ curls bounced with every step.
Etymology
From kink + the adjective-forming suffix -y, originally just meaning "twisted" before picking up its figurative sexual sense in the 20th century.
Class of 1900
kinky joined the language around 1900.
See the full Class of 1900 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for kinky
See all rhymes for kinky →Frequently asked questions
What does “kinky” mean?
The word “kinky” means full of tight curls or twists, especially describing hair.
How do you pronounce “kinky”?
“Kinky” is pronounced KIHNG-kee (/ˈkɪŋki/ in IPA).
How do you use “kinky” in a sentence?
Here is “kinky” used in a sentence: “Her kinky curls bounced with every step.”
What part of speech is “kinky”?
“Kinky” is an adjective.
Where does the word “kinky” come from?
The word “kinky” dates back to around 1900.
Is “kinky” a common word?
“Kinky” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “kinky” have?
“Kinky” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: full of tight curls or twists, especially describing hair.
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