adj

pasty

PAYS-tee

Pasty (adj) means Unhealthily pale in complexion. Example: “He looked pasty and tired after the long flight.”

adj

Unhealthily pale in complexion.

"He looked pasty and tired after the long flight."

noun

A baked pastry case filled with seasoned meat and vegetables, folded into a semicircle.

"A traditional Cornish pasty is filled with beef, potato, and swede."

How to use pasty

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAs an adjective, pale-looking; as a noun, a hand-held pie with a pastry crust, famously Cornish.

Common pairings

pasty complexion pasty-faced Cornish pasty

Word forms

pastier comparative, pasties plural, pastiest superlative

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He looked _____ and tired after the long flight.

Etymology

From "paste" plus the adjectival suffix "-y" — the noun sense (the pie) comes from the same "paste" root via the dough it's made of.

Rhymes for pasty

nasty hasty tasty toasty dynasty

See all rhymes for pasty →

Frequently asked questions

What does “pasty” mean?

The word “pasty” means unhealthily pale in complexion. In plain terms, as an adjective, pale-looking; as a noun, a hand-held pie with a pastry crust, famously Cornish.

How do you pronounce “pasty”?

“Pasty” is pronounced PAYS-tee (/ˈpeɪsti/ in IPA).

How do you use “pasty” in a sentence?

Here is “pasty” used in a sentence: “He looked pasty and tired after the long flight.”

What part of speech is “pasty”?

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

How many meanings does “pasty” have?

“Pasty” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: unhealthily pale in complexion.