shady

[ shey-dee ]
See synonyms for: shadyshadiness on Thesaurus.com

adjective,shad·i·er, shad·i·est.
  1. abounding in shade; shaded: shady paths.

  2. giving shade: a shady tree.

  1. shadowy; indistinct; spectral.

  2. of dubious character; rather disreputable: shady dealings.

Idioms about shady

  1. on the shady side of, Informal. beyond (the specified age); more than: on the shady side of 40.

Origin of shady

1
First recorded in 1570–80; shade + -y1

Other words from shady

  • shad·i·ly, adverb
  • shad·i·ness, noun
  • un·shad·i·ly, adverb
  • un·shad·i·ness, noun
  • un·shad·y, adjective

Words Nearby shady

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use shady in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for shady

shady

/ (ˈʃeɪdɪ) /


adjectiveshadier or shadiest
  1. full of shade; shaded

  2. affording or casting a shade

  1. dim, quiet, or concealed

  2. informal dubious or questionable as to honesty or legality

Derived forms of shady

  • shadily, adverb
  • shadiness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012