English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adj B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

rosy

ROH-zee

Rosy (adj) means Pink or reddish in colour, like a rose. Example: “The baby had rosy cheeks after her nap.”

adj
1
Pink or reddish in colour, like a rose.
"The baby had rosy cheeks after her nap."
2
Full of hope; suggesting a good outcome.
"Analysts painted a rosy picture of the company's future."
"His rosy view of the merger turned out to be wildly optimistic."

How to use rosy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither pink-cheeked, or unrealistically optimistic about how things will turn out.

Common mistake

When used about outlooks or predictions, "rosy" often carries a hint that the optimism may be overdone — "a rosy forecast" isn't neutral, it implies things might not really be that good.

Common pairings
rosy cheeks rosy future rosy picture rosy outlook

Word forms

rosier comparative, rosied past tense, rosies singular, rosiest superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “rosy” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The baby had _____ cheeks after her nap.

Etymology

From Middle English rosy, built from rose plus the adjective-forming suffix -y.

Origin: Middle English

Rhymes for rosy

See all rhymes for rosy →

Frequently asked questions

What does “rosy” mean?

The word “rosy” means pink or reddish in colour, like a rose. In plain terms, either pink-cheeked, or unrealistically optimistic about how things will turn out.

How do you pronounce “rosy”?

“Rosy” is pronounced ROH-zee (/ˈɹoʊzi/ in IPA).

How do you use “rosy” in a sentence?

Here is “rosy” used in a sentence: “The baby had rosy cheeks after her nap.”

What part of speech is “rosy”?

“Rosy” is an adjective.

Where does the word “rosy” come from?

The word “rosy” comes from Middle English. From Middle English rosy, built from rose plus the adjective-forming suffix -y.

Is “rosy” a common word?

“Rosy” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “rosy” have?

“Rosy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: pink or reddish in colour, like a rose.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial