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carny
or car·ney
[ kahr-nee ]
/ ˈkɑr ni /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun, plural car·nies.
a person employed by a carnival.
adjective
of or relating to carnivals: carny slang.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Origin of carny
First recorded in 1930–35; carn(ival) + -y2
Words nearby carny
carnotite, Carnot principle, Carnot refrigerator, Carnot's theorem, carnous, carny, Caro, carob, caroche, carol, Carola
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use carny in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for carny (1 of 2)
carny1
carney
/ (ˈkɑːnɪ) /
verb -nies, -nying, -nied, -neys, -neying or -neyed
British informal to coax or cajole or act in a wheedling manner
Word Origin for carny
C19: of unknown origin
British Dictionary definitions for carny (2 of 2)
carny2
carney or carnie
/ (ˈkɑːnɪ) /
noun plural -nies US and Canadian slang
short for carnival
a person who works in a carnival
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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