picky

American  

[pik-ee] / ˈpɪk i /

adjective

pickier, pickiest

1. extremely fussy or finicky, usually over trifles.

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picky British  

/ ˈpɪkɪ /

adjective

1. informal fussy; finicky; choosy

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Other Word Forms

• pickily adverb
• pickiness noun

Etymology

Origin of picky

First recorded in 1865–70; pick ¹ + -y ¹

Explanation

If you're extremely particular or fussy, you're picky. A picky eater might only eat chicken nuggets and tater tots. When you invite your picky friend to dinner, you'll probably have a hard time deciding what to serve, since she hates all vegetables; and if you're picky about sleeping in a comfortable, clean place, you might not be a fan of camping. Picky people are hard to please — they like things to be a certain way. This informal word first appeared in the 1860s.

Example Sentences

It is made even more challenging because of how picky some butterfly species and their caterpillars are about what they eat.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

If you’re feeding picky eaters, let everyone choose one thing they love.

From Salon • Feb. 18, 2026

But stubbornly high home prices and average 30-year mortgage rates that are stuck above 6% are making buyers more picky, and homes are sitting longer on the market.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

"I was into fashion and clothing when I was six years old. I was always very picky with my own outfits," he explained.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

“Because the modern world is very picky and the scholars have different opinions, I simply stayed with my own observations.”

From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman