flaky

Or flak·ey

[fley-kee]

adjective

flakier, flakiest 

1. of or like flakes.

2. lying or cleaving off in flakes or layers.

3. Slang.,  eccentric; wacky; dizzy.

   a flaky math professor.

flaky

/ ˈfleɪkɪ /

adjective

1. like or made of flakes

2. tending to peel off or break easily into flakes

3. Also: flakey. slang,  eccentric; crazy

Other Word Forms

• flakily adverb
• flakiness noun
• nonflakily adverb
• nonflakilyness noun
• nonflaky adjective
• unflaky adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of flaky¹

First recorded in 1570–80; 1965–70 flaky for def. 3; flake ¹ + -y ¹; sense of flaky def. 3 probably flake ⁴ + -y ¹, though influenced by flake ¹

Example Sentences

We made great friends with our new neighbors, one of whom is an actor and not in the least bit flaky.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The gold satin skirt was wrapped and layered like a flaky golden pastry from a Parisian bakery.

Read more on Literature

Biscuit dough felt too stodgy; puff pastry and its flakier cousins had the right spirit, but they collapsed under pressure.

Read more on Salon

Chelsea need the result more, and they also have a much better record in this fixture, but their home defeat against Sunderland was another example of how flaky they are at the moment.

Read more on BBC

The crust is flaky and buttery, golden at the edges, and tender enough to yield with a satisfying snap when you bite in.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• crazy 
• eccentric 
• goofy 
• nutty 
• odd 
• unconventional 
• wacky 
• whacky