adjective

leaky

LEE-kee

Leaky (adjective) means having a crack or hole that lets liquid or gas escape; not properly sealed. Example: “The leaky roof let rain drip into the attic.”

adjective

Having a crack or hole that lets liquid or gas escape; not properly sealed.

"The leaky roof let rain drip into the attic."

"They replaced the leaky faucet in the bathroom."

Prone to letting out secrets or confidential information.

"The department was known as a leaky source of gossip."

How to use leaky

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLetting things escape when it shouldn't — whether liquid, air, or secrets.

Common pairings

leaky pipe leaky roof leaky faucet

Word forms

leakier comparative, leakiest superlative

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

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

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ roof let rain drip into the attic.

Etymology

From leak plus the adjective suffix -y, describing something that tends to leak.

Rhymes for leaky

peaky flaky shaky freaky sneaky creaky squeaky

See all rhymes for leaky →

Frequently asked questions

What does “leaky” mean?

The word “leaky” means having a crack or hole that lets liquid or gas escape; not properly sealed. In plain terms, letting things escape when it shouldn't — whether liquid, air, or secrets.

How do you pronounce “leaky”?

“Leaky” is pronounced LEE-kee (/ˈliːki/ in IPA).

How do you use “leaky” in a sentence?

Here is “leaky” used in a sentence: “The leaky roof let rain drip into the attic.”

What part of speech is “leaky”?

“Leaky” is an adjective.

How many meanings does “leaky” have?

“Leaky” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having a crack or hole that lets liquid or gas escape; not properly sealed.