coy
Americanadjective
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artfully or affectedly shy or reserved; slyly hesitant; coquettish.
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showing reluctance, especially when insincere or affected, to reveal one's plans or opinions, make a commitment, or take a stand.
The mayor was coy about his future political aspirations.
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Archaic. disdainful; aloof.
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Obsolete. quiet; reserved.
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
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to quiet; soothe.
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to pat; caress.
adjective
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(usually of a woman) affectedly demure, esp in a playful or provocative manner
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shy; modest
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evasive, esp in an annoying way
abbreviation
Other Word Forms
- coyish adjective
- coyishness noun
- coyly adverb
- coyness noun
- overcoy adjective
- overcoyness noun
- uncoy adjective
- uncoyness noun
Etymology
Origin of coy
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French coi, quoy “calm,” Old French quei, from unattested Vulgar Latin quētus, for Latin quiētus quiet
Explanation
Take the adjective coy for a person who pretends to be shy but really isn't, or someone who could give a definite answer but won't. Coy behavior can be playful or just plain annoying. Originally meaning "quiet and shy," today someone who is coy pretends to be shy in a playful manner — often as a form of flirting. If a politician is coy about something, he or she only gives vague statements on an issue for fear of committing to a position or angering his or her constituency. Common to both of these senses is the fact that a person uses coyness to subtly manipulate his or her audience.
Vocabulary lists containing coy
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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"To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell
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The Things They Carried
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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.
While Fetterman was gracious to Mullin during his questioning, though, he was unusually coy about the status of his support.
From Slate • Mar. 18, 2026
In a coy bit of casting, Smith appears here as a “Wildcard” judge alongside the D.J.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026
Hawk is coy on what exactly will come next, but says he has been writing new songs over the past several months.
From BBC • Dec. 31, 2025
But Emery's coy approach to Villa's growing title momentum can't obscure the facts.
From Barron's • Dec. 21, 2025
“It matters not, for I know you love me,” I said with a coy tilt of my head.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
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.
