adj

skinny

SKIH-nee

adj

Very thin, often used with a slightly negative or critical tone.

"He was a skinny kid who grew into his height later."

Made with reduced fat or fewer calories, especially describing coffee drinks.

"She ordered a skinny latte instead of her usual order."

noun

Informal: inside information or the real facts about a situation.

"Give me the skinny on what happened at the meeting."

How to Use Skinny

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishVery thin, low-fat, or (informally) the inside details on something.

Common mistake

"Skinny" (thin, sometimes unflatteringly) is not the same as "slim" or "slender," which sound more neutral or positive.

Easily confused with

slim →

Common pairings

skinny jeans skinny latte get the skinny

skinnier comparative, skinnied past tense, skinnies plural, skinnies singular, skinniest superlative

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He was a _____ kid who grew into his height later.

From Middle English, originally meaning "resembling skin," from "skin" plus "-y."

Ginny ninny tinny vinny Jinny whinny