skinny
Americanadjective
-
very lean or thin; emaciated.
a skinny little kitten.
-
of or like skin.
-
unusually low or reduced; meager; minimal.
skinny profits.
-
(of an object) narrow or slender.
skinny noodles.
-
(of garments, especially pants) narrow and very tight-fitting.
skinny jeans; a skinny tank top.
noun
adjective
-
lacking in flesh; thin
-
consisting of or resembling skin
Other Word Forms
- skinniness noun
Etymology
Origin of skinny
First recorded in 1565–75; skin + -y 1; skinny def. 6 is unclearly derived and perhaps a distinct word
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Rowdy’s long skinny tail started fanning the air.
From Literature
Suddenly Red groaned, and I looked up to see a tall, skinny man leaning against a tree, a giant sack flung over his shoulder.
From Literature
"I typed in 'weight-loss injections'. I just wanted to lose weight as quickly as I could. I thought if I was skinny again, people would accept me - and I'd accept myself."
From BBC
So I stared at everyone, looking for curly hair and long skinny legs and nostrils that flare out a little.
From Literature
Iowa farmer Lance Lillibridge told AFP that cattle producers have been "living off very skinny margins" for years.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
