cheeky

[chee-kee]

adjective

cheekier, cheekiest 

1. 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.

   Synonyms: bold, audacious, saucy

2. 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.

3. 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

1. Slang.,  Often cheekies a pair of underpants, shorts, etc., that incompletely or scantily cover the buttocks.

   Some feel comfier in a cheeky than in a thong.

   I spent Saturday morning lounging in my favorite T-shirt and a pair of cheekies.

cheeky

/ ˈtʃiːkɪ /

adjective

1. disrespectful in speech or behaviour; impudent

   a cheeky child

Other Word Forms

• cheekily adverb
• cheekiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cheeky¹

First recorded in 1855–60; cheek + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Over the years, Charton announced and documented her previous pregnancies with similarly cheeky posts.

From Los Angeles Times

Cuomo leaned into the moment with a cheeky campaign stunt, mocking Adams’ troubles while reminding voters of his own knack for theatrics.

From Salon

He was a boy who could sometimes be cheeky but "would never overstep boundaries".

From BBC

Back then, baby-faced and bleached blond, he exhibited plenty of cheeky confidence.

From Los Angeles Times

With his wavy brown hair and self-described cheeky vibe, Jowsey applied to multiple reality shows, eventually landing a role on “Too Hot to Handle.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bold 
• brash 
• saucy 

When To Use

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.