adj

pokey

POH-kee

Pokey (adj) means Small and cramped. Example: “The flat had one pokey bedroom barely big enough for a single bed.”

adj

Small and cramped.

"The flat had one pokey bedroom barely big enough for a single bed."

Slow-moving.

"We got stuck behind a pokey tractor on the country lane."

noun

Prison (informal).

"He spent a night in the pokey after the bar fight."

How to use pokey

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCramped or slow — or, as slang, jail.

When to use it

The "prison" sense is informal American slang, usually said with "the": "in the pokey."

pokeys plural

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

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

Can you complete this real example?

The flat had one _____ bedroom barely big enough for a single bed.

in the poke

key hey bey dey ley grey they joey whey obey prey abbey

What does “pokey” mean?

The word “pokey” means small and cramped. In plain terms, cramped or slow — or, as slang, jail.

How do you pronounce “pokey”?

“Pokey” is pronounced POH-kee (/ˈpoʊ.ki/ in IPA).

How do you use “pokey” in a sentence?

Here is “pokey” used in a sentence: “The flat had one pokey bedroom barely big enough for a single bed.”

What is another word for “pokey”?

Words with a similar meaning to “pokey” include in the poke.

What part of speech is “pokey”?

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

How many meanings does “pokey” have?

“Pokey” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: small and cramped.