noun

winky

WIHNG-kee

Winky (noun) means a winking-face emoticon, such as ;-) or 😉, used to signal that a comment is a joke or flirtatious. Example: “She ended the text with a winky to show she was teasing.”

noun

A winking-face emoticon, such as ;-) or 😉, used to signal that a comment is a joke or flirtatious.

"She ended the text with a winky to show she was teasing."

adj

Prone to winking, or resembling a wink.

"He gave a winky little smile before walking off."

How to use winky

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA cute or casual way to describe a winking expression, especially the emoji.

When to use it

Informal — used in texting and casual speech, not formal writing.

Word forms

more winky comparative, winkies plural, winkies plural, most winky superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She ended the text with a _____ to show she was teasing.

Etymology

From wink plus the informal suffix -y.

Rhymes for winky

inky pinky kinky hinky dinky binky slinky stinky blinky

See all rhymes for winky →

Frequently asked questions

What does “winky” mean?

The word “winky” means a winking-face emoticon, such as ;-) or 😉, used to signal that a comment is a joke or flirtatious. In plain terms, a cute or casual way to describe a winking expression, especially the emoji.

How do you pronounce “winky”?

“Winky” is pronounced WIHNG-kee (/ˈwɪŋki/ in IPA).

How do you use “winky” in a sentence?

Here is “winky” used in a sentence: “She ended the text with a winky to show she was teasing.”

What part of speech is “winky”?

Depending on how it is used, “winky” can be a noun and an adjective.

How many meanings does “winky” have?

“Winky” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a winking-face emoticon, such as ;-) or 😉, used to signal that a comment is a joke or flirtatious.