tacky

1
[ tak-ee ]
/ ˈtæk i /

adjective, tack·i·er, tack·i·est.

sticky to the touch; adhesive.

Origin of tacky

1
First recorded in 1780–90; tack1 + -y1

OTHER WORDS FROM tacky

tack·i·ness, noun

Words nearby tacky

tackie, tackies, tackle, tackling, tacksman, tacky, tacloban, tacmahack, tacna-arica, tacnode, taco

Definition for tackiness (2 of 2)

tacky 2
[ tak-ee ]
/ ˈtæk i /

adjective, tack·i·er, tack·i·est.

not tasteful or fashionable; dowdy.
shabby in appearance; shoddy: a tacky, jerry-built housing development.
crass; cheaply vulgar; tasteless; crude.
gaudy; flashy; showy.

Origin of tacky

2
1880–85, Americanism; apparently identical with earlier tack(e)y small horse, pony, poor farmer; of obscure origin

OTHER WORDS FROM tacky

tack·i·ness, noun

Example sentences from the Web for tackiness

British Dictionary definitions for tackiness (1 of 2)

tacky 1

tackey

/ (ˈtækɪ) /

adjective tackier or tackiest

slightly sticky or adhesive the varnish was still tacky

Derived forms of tacky

tackily, adverb tackiness, noun

Word Origin for tacky

C18: from tack 1 (in the sense: stickiness)

British Dictionary definitions for tackiness (2 of 2)

tacky 2
/ (ˈtækɪ) /

adjective tackier or tackiest informal

shabby or shoddy
ostentatious and vulgar
US (of a person) dowdy; seedy

Derived forms of tacky

tackiness, noun

Word Origin for tacky

C19: from dialect tacky an inferior horse, of unknown origin