racy

[rey-see]

adjective

racier, raciest 

1. slightly improper or indelicate; suggestive; risqué.

2. vigorous; lively; spirited.

   Synonyms: animated
   Antonyms: slow

3. sprightly; piquant; pungent.

   a racy literary style.

   Synonyms: strong

4. having an agreeably peculiar taste or flavor, as wine, fruit, etc.

racy

/ ˈreɪsɪ /

adjective

1. (of a person's manner, literary style, etc) having a distinctively lively and spirited quality; fresh

2. having a characteristic or distinctive flavour

   a racy wine

3. suggestive; slightly indecent; risqué

   a racy comedy

Other Word Forms

• racily adverb
• raciness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of racy¹

First recorded in 1645–55; race ² + -y ¹

Example Sentences

The first was back in March, when her Brit Awards opening performance was criticised for being too racy for pre-watershed television.

From BBC

“I liked it because it sounded racy,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

Methods which McIlroy used to zone out included watching racy period drama Bridgerton - which he claimed he was talked into by wife Erica - and Disney animation Zootopia with his four-year-old daughter Poppy.

From BBC

The artfully racy dancing in the latter was enough the leave the crowd howling.

From Los Angeles Times

Each of the men also carried racy identification cards with strippers and QR codes on them.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bawdy 
• erotic 
• lewd 
• lurid 
• naughty 
• off-color 
• suggestive