adj
Uncommon
tacky
TA-kee
Tacky (adj) means Cheap-looking, gaudy, or in poor taste. Example: “The souvenir shop was full of tacky plastic keychains.”
adj
1
Cheap-looking, gaudy, or in poor taste.
"The souvenir shop was full of tacky plastic keychains."
"She thought the neon sign looked tacky outside such an elegant restaurant."
2
Slightly sticky to the touch, as paint or glue that has not fully dried.
"Check that the varnish is no longer tacky before adding another coat."
How to use tacky
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither cheap and tasteless, or slightly sticky depending on context.
Common pairings
tacky decorations
still tacky to the touch
tacky souvenirs
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Word forms
- Comparative
- tackier
- Superlative
- tackiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The souvenir shop was full of _____ plastic keychains.
Etymology
From "tack" (in the sense of stickiness) plus the adjective ending "-y."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for tacky
See all rhymes for tacky →Frequently asked questions
What does “tacky” mean?
The word “tacky” means cheap-looking, gaudy, or in poor taste. In plain terms, either cheap and tasteless, or slightly sticky depending on context.
How do you pronounce “tacky”?
“Tacky” is pronounced TA-kee (/ˈtæki/ in IPA).
How do you use “tacky” in a sentence?
Here is “tacky” used in a sentence: “The souvenir shop was full of tacky plastic keychains.”
What part of speech is “tacky”?
“Tacky” is an adjective.
Is “tacky” a common word?
“Tacky” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “tacky” have?
“Tacky” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: cheap-looking, gaudy, or in poor taste.
