bratty

American  

[brat-ee] / ˈbræt i /

adjective

brattier, brattiest

1. characteristic of or resembling a brat; impudent; ill-mannered.

   bratty remarks; bratty tricks.

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Usage

What does bratty mean? Bratty describes someone or something considered to be ill-mannered, rude, impolite, or overly irritatingly. The term is often used to be hurtful or judgemental of the one being labeled bratty. The person using the term usually disapproves of someone’s actions, whether or not those actions are breaking social conventions. While children are most often the ones labeled as brats and being bratty, adults and animals can also be labeled as brats and being bratty. You might even hear objects, such as a computer or a car, being called bratty when it isn’t working as expected. Brattiness is sometimes associated with rebellion or indecency, particularly in regards to children. Sometimes, you’ll hear someone call themselves bratty to make fun of themselves or to apologize for something they did. Example: My bratty computer keeps shutting down for no reason!

Etymology

Origin of bratty

brat + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Let's hope they're not too Bratty about it.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2025

Fans of Phoebe Bridgers and Soccer Mommy, Mexican indie darling Bratty serves soft-rock heartbreak in this fresh cut off her upcoming album, “TR3S,” set for release Nov. 3.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 15, 2023

It was requested by the Vatican’s Office of Migrants and Refugees and funded by the Rudolph P. Bratty Family Foundation.

From New York Times • Sep. 29, 2019

Yet Ms Bratty argues that Walmart moms for the most part remain worried, fearing that their health care will be more expensive in future, harder to get and not as good as before.

From Economist • Sep. 13, 2012

Raglin insisted for a time upon going halves—blood may be blood, but he had despised Bratty as much as I ever did—but of course I would not hear of it.

From Ancestors A Novel by Atherton, Gertrude Franklin Horn