coy
Americanadjective
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artfully or affectedly shy or reserved; slyly hesitant; coquettish.
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showing reluctance, especially when insincere or affected, to reveal one's plans or opinions, make a commitment, or take a stand.
The mayor was coy about his future political aspirations.
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Archaic. disdainful; aloof.
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Obsolete. quiet; reserved.
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
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to quiet; soothe.
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to pat; caress.
adjective
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(usually of a woman) affectedly demure, esp in a playful or provocative manner
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shy; modest
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evasive, esp in an annoying way
abbreviation
Other Word Forms
- coyish adjective
- coyishness noun
- coyly adverb
- coyness noun
- overcoy adjective
- overcoyness noun
- uncoy adjective
- uncoyness noun
Etymology
Origin of coy
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French coi, quoy “calm,” Old French quei, from unattested Vulgar Latin quētus, for Latin quiētus quiet
Explanation
Take the adjective coy for a person who pretends to be shy but really isn't, or someone who could give a definite answer but won't. Coy behavior can be playful or just plain annoying. Originally meaning "quiet and shy," today someone who is coy pretends to be shy in a playful manner — often as a form of flirting. If a politician is coy about something, he or she only gives vague statements on an issue for fear of committing to a position or angering his or her constituency. Common to both of these senses is the fact that a person uses coyness to subtly manipulate his or her audience.
Vocabulary lists containing coy
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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"To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell
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The Things They Carried
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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.
“I won’t go there,” she says, gently, with a coy smile.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026
And though he played coy during the hearing about whether Mullin still had his vote, he delivered the clinching “aye” to advance the nomination on Thursday.
From Slate • Mar. 21, 2026
She was similarly coy when asked if being number one for the first time was on her radar.
From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026
Hearts fans, at least, can stop playing coy.
From BBC • Jan. 14, 2026
Seeing Mamá acting so coy and proper on the sofa next to Special Agent Gonzales had been enlightening to say the least.
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
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.
