sassy

¹

[sas-ee]

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.

sassy

²

[sas-ee]

noun

1. sassy bark.

sassy

¹

/ 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

sassy

²

/ ˈsæsɪ /

adjective

1. informal,  insolent, impertinent

Other Word Forms

• sassiness noun
• sassily adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sassy¹

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

Origin of sassy²

First recorded in 1855–60; of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of sassy¹

C19: probably from a language of the Kwa family: compare Twi sese plane tree, Ewe sesewu a kind of timber tree

Origin of sassy²

C19: variant of _saucy

Example Sentences

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.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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

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

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Even a tiny robot — DG-33, sort of cutesy spin on a trash compactor — has developed some quirks, namely a sassy Southern accent.

Read more on Los Angeles Times