noun
speakeasy
Speakeasy (noun) means an illegal bar, especially one operating secretly during America's Prohibition era in the 1920s. Example: “Patrons had to know a password to get into the speakeasy.”
noun
1
An illegal bar, especially one operating secretly during America's Prohibition era in the 1920s.
"Patrons had to know a password to get into the speakeasy."
"Many speakeasies were hidden behind unmarked doors in back alleys."
"Many of the legitimate nightclubs of today sprang like legalized phoenixes from the still-hot ashes of the speakeasies of prohibition days."
— George Johnston, Skyscrapers in the Mist (1946)
How to use speakeasy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA secret bar that operated outside the law, especially during Prohibition.
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Word forms
- Plural
- speakeasies, speakeasys
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Patrons had to know a password to get into the _____.
Etymology
From the phrase "speak easy," meaning to talk quietly — patrons were told to keep their voices down so as not to draw police attention.
Rhymes for speakeasy
See all rhymes for speakeasy →Frequently asked questions
What does “speakeasy” mean?
The word “speakeasy” means an illegal bar, especially one operating secretly during America's Prohibition era in the 1920s. In plain terms, a secret bar that operated outside the law, especially during Prohibition.
How do you use “speakeasy” in a sentence?
Here is “speakeasy” used in a sentence: “Patrons had to know a password to get into the speakeasy.”
What part of speech is “speakeasy”?
“Speakeasy” is a noun.
What is the meaning of speakeasy?
"speakeasy" (noun) means an illegal bar, especially one operating secretly during America's Prohibition era in the 1920s.
