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speakeasy

American  
[speek-ee-zee] / ˈspikˌi zi /

noun

plural

speakeasies

  1. a saloon or nightclub selling alcoholic beverages illegally, especially during Prohibition.

speakeasy British  
/ ˈspiːkˌiːzɪ /

noun

  1. a place where alcoholic drink was sold illicitly during Prohibition

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of speakeasy

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; speak + easy

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.

Their ideas for improving office life ranged from creating “no-device speakeasy” areas to adding more workplace fitness options such as underdesk treadmills.

From The Wall Street Journal

Janes House was bought by a developer and moved to the back of its lot where it was restored; it is now the speakeasy No Vacancy.

From Los Angeles Times

Molly remembered the building from when it was new and had still been a hotel and speakeasy.

From Literature

This no-device speakeasy would be less structured around work and more like a hangout: Someone just kicks off a conversation and folks follow on.

From The Wall Street Journal

I was renting from this guy, kind of a character on the scene, and he would set up these speakeasy acoustic shows above this jeans store on Abbot Kinney called the Stronghold.

From Los Angeles Times

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.