coquettish

American

[koh-ket-ish] / koʊˈkɛt ɪʃ /

adjective

(of a woman) characteristically flirtatious, especially in a teasing, lighthearted manner.

Other Word Forms

coquettishly adverb
coquettishness noun
uncoquettish adjective
uncoquettishly adverb
uncoquettishness noun

Etymology

Origin of coquettish

First recorded in 1685–95; coquett(e) ( def. ) + -ish ¹ ( def. )

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.

More damagingly, it doesn’t seem as if Hnath’s Nora has evolved all that much from the skittishly coquettish wife of Ibsen’s play.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2025

He captures her coquettish coyness without caricaturing it.

From New York Times • Sep. 30, 2021

"I think I'm camp rather than coquettish," she counters.

From BBC • Feb. 3, 2021

The current season presents Diana, played by Emma Corrin, as young and coquettish.

From Salon • Nov. 21, 2020

“Well, of course, our readers would be profoundly interested . . .” He put his head on one side, his smile became almost coquettish.

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023