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
1
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."
"Crap, he sent a winky back. That was not good. Mixed signals were a bad way to start any kind of beginning, whether it was love or friendship."
— Mara Reitsma, Amethyst Attraction (2015)
adj
1
Prone to winking, or resembling a wink.
"He gave a winky little smile before walking off."
"He had included a winky face in his previous response. You don't haphazardly throw a winky face around like it's a thumbs-up or praise hands."
— Lincee Ray, Why I Hate Green Beans … (2018)
"I send a winky face emoji right after this, so he knows I am just teasing him."
— Theresa Leigh, Cluck Buddies: A Friends With Benefits Romance (2021)
How to use winky
Learner’s notesIn 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.
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Word forms
- Plural
- winkies
- Comparative
- more winky
- Superlative
- most winky
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
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.
