sassy

¹ American  

[sas-ee] / ˈsæs i /

adjective

Informal.

sassier, sassiest

1. disrespectful or impudent; impertinent; insolent.

   Don't get sassy with me!

2. boldly stylish and smart; pert.

   a sassy red handbag.

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sassy ² American  

[sas-ee] / ˈsæs i /

noun

1. sassy bark.

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sassy ¹ British  

/ ˈsæsˌwʊd, ˈsæsɪ /

noun

1. a W African leguminous tree, Erythrophleum guineense, with poisonous bark ( sassy bark ) and hard strong wood

2. the bark or wood of this tree or the alkaloid derived from them, which is sometimes used in medicine

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sassy ² British  

/ ˈsæsɪ /

adjective

1. informal  insolent, impertinent

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Other Word Forms

• sassily adverb
• sassiness noun

Etymology

Origin of sassy¹

An Americanism dating back to 1830–1835; alteration of saucy

Origin of sassy²

First recorded in 1855–60; of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

But she soon began to steal the limelight on the TV series with her sassy personality and glamorous looks.

From BBC

When Martin used AI to design the character, he incorporated the prompt: “Make frequent sassy remarks that they are wasting your time. It sounds bad, but it’s really important for the story.”

From The Wall Street Journal

He described Ethan as "sassy" and "boisterous" and that he loved nothing more than a cuddle.

From BBC

Her ability to switch from a sassy upbeat dance number to a vulnerable, acoustic solo performance is also impressive.

From BBC

Dressing like Marie Antoinette to attend a luncheon at Tiffany’s isn’t sassy fashion sense — it’s a cry for help.

From Los Angeles Times