cheeky
Americanadjective
-
rude or disrespectful, especially in a playful or witty way; saucy; bold.
With his trademark cheeky glint in his eye, he told me to get lost.
A high dose of cheeky slapstick keeps the narrative rolling along.
-
Informal. taken or done for sheer self-indulgent pleasure, usually spontaneously and in defiance of convention or normal restraint.
This dish makes a great small dessert bowl, perfect for a cheeky scoop of ice cream.
While in London for work I went for a cheeky spa break.
-
Slang. (of shorts, underwear, etc.) incompletely or scantily covering the buttocks.
My new swimsuit has a retro triangle white top and a teal cheeky bottom.
noun
adjective
Usage
What does cheeky mean? Cheeky means bold, brash, and a bit rude, but also maybe a little playful and amusing. Cheeky is an adjective that is typically used to describe a person or their actions or comments. It is most commonly used in the U. K., but it is frequently used elsewhere as well. Example: During her speech, she managed to sneak in a cheeky remark about her previous employer.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of cheeky
Explanation
If you're being cheeky you're being brash or irreverent. If you're a cheeky child, you're probably just being impudent and disrespectful — and you're probably going to get in trouble. Cheeky has shades of meaning according to the degree of offense taken, and this may vary between British and American English. At the offensive end are the synonyms rude, disrespectful, and insulting. Less offensive are sassy, arrogant, and shameless. Rounding out the cheeky spectrum are bold, assertive, and daring, which are about getting noticed but without causing injury.
Vocabulary lists containing cheeky
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Born a Crime
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Another slightly cheeky observation on my behalf: I don’t think a $17,000 credit-card debt and the word “only” belong in the same sentence.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
Neil the beloved elephant seal has once again returned to Seven Mile Beach, Tasmania, for his annual moult, keeping locals on their toes with his cheeky and sometimes destructive antics.
From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026
"Tony liked fixing and repairing things for friends and neighbours. He was a cheeky chap, everyone loved him," she said.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
She was cheeky when asked about that move in January on the “Today” show.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
The cheeky, nervy boy who reminded me of Bas.
From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse
"She's got a little bit cheekier because she's looking round her paddock now and sticking her head up to look over the other side," Will said.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2024
Another forum had a cheekier explanation for why it was banning posts about ransomware: “if it ran somewhere, then you should probably go catch it?”
From The Verge ● Dec. 9, 2021
The restaurant pays tribute to classic diners and delis, with all-day breakfast and phosphates, as well as cheekier items such as black-and-white challah toast and a design-your-own-mac-and-cheese.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 19, 2019
This is one of the documentary’s cheekier touches, but inspired in a fundamentally important way.
From Salon ● Nov. 25, 2018
Well, if you ain't cheekier 'n ol' cheek!
From Main-Travelled Roads by Garland, Hamlin
What do you think America will witness first: a female president or our begrudging acknowledgment of Britain’s cheekiest pop icon?
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2025
The same year she married a “fair-haired, blue-eyed boy with the cheekiest grin I’d ever seen”.
From BBC ● Nov. 8, 2024
Maurizio Sarri’s side took the lead in the 21st minute with a fantastic assist from Sergej Milinković-Savić, who sent Immobile clear with the cheekiest of backheel flicks and the forward coolly slotted home.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 31, 2022
However, the honor for the cheekiest Easter egg in the main titles belongs to Steve Zahn, who plays Mark.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2021
All I heard was Mrs Pratchett’s dreadful high-pitched voice behind me screeching, ‘This one’s the cheekiest of the bloomin’ lot, ’Eadmaster!
From "Boy: Tales of a Childhood" by Roald Dahl
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.
