adjective
Uncommon
shady
SHAY-dee
Shady (adjective) means Sheltered from direct sunlight; full of shade. Example: “We had a picnic under a shady oak tree.”
adjective
1
Sheltered from direct sunlight; full of shade.
"We had a picnic under a shady oak tree."
"The garden has a shady corner where nothing much grows."
"The dog lay down on the cool grass in the shady part of the garden."
2
Untrustworthy or dishonest in a way that seems hidden or underhand.
"He got involved in some shady business deals and lost everything."
"I would not buy a car from that shady dealer down the road."
"There was something shady about the way he refused to show us the paperwork."
How to use shady
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither literally blocking sunlight, or informally describing someone or something that seems dodgy or dishonest.
When to use it
The "dishonest" sense is informal and common in everyday speech.
Common pairings
shady deal
shady character
shady spot
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Word forms
- Comparative
- shadier
- Superlative
- shadiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We had a picnic under a _____ oak tree.
Etymology
From "shade" plus "-y".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for shady
See all rhymes for shady →Frequently asked questions
What does “shady” mean?
The word “shady” means sheltered from direct sunlight; full of shade. In plain terms, either literally blocking sunlight, or informally describing someone or something that seems dodgy or dishonest.
How do you pronounce “shady”?
“Shady” is pronounced SHAY-dee (/ˈʃeɪdi/ in IPA).
How do you use “shady” in a sentence?
Here is “shady” used in a sentence: “We had a picnic under a shady oak tree.”
What part of speech is “shady”?
“Shady” is an adjective.
Is “shady” a common word?
“Shady” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “shady” have?
“Shady” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: sheltered from direct sunlight; full of shade.
What is the difference between 'shady' meaning shaded and 'shady' meaning dishonest?
When describing a place, 'shady' means sheltered from direct sunlight, such as a shady spot under a tree. When describing a person or activity, 'shady' means untrustworthy or dishonest in a hidden or underhand way, an entirely different, informal meaning.
Is calling someone 'shady' formal or informal?
Describing a person or their behavior as 'shady' in the sense of dishonest is informal usage, typically found in casual speech rather than formal writing.
What is the difference between 'shady' and 'suspicious'?
'Suspicious' describes something that raises doubt or seems questionable without necessarily implying wrongdoing, while 'shady' more strongly implies that dishonesty is being deliberately concealed.
