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

Full of tight curls or twists, especially describing hair.

"Her kinky curls bounced with every step."

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 notes

In plain EnglishEither tightly curled (hair) or sexually adventurous/unconventional, depending on context.

Common pairings

kinky hair a bit kinky kinky sex

kinkier comparative, kinkiest superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

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

Can you complete this real example?

Her _____ curls bounced with every step.

From kink + the adjective-forming suffix -y, originally just meaning "twisted" before picking up its figurative sexual sense in the 20th century.

· First attested 1900

Class of 1900 kinky joined the language around 1900.

addictive Alfredo Alyssa antsy applesauce

See the full Class of 1900 →

inky pinky hinky dinky binky winky slinky stinky blinky

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.

Vocabulary lists that include kinky: