foxy

[ fok-see ]

adjective

, fox·i·er, fox·i·est.

1. foxlike; cunning or crafty; slyly clever.

   Synonyms: artful, sly, tricky, wily

2. yellowish or reddish brown, as of the color of the common red fox.
3. Slang.
   1. sexually appealing; attractive.
   2. stylish; modish:

      a foxy outfit.

   3. exciting and appealing, as a place, entertainment, or the like.
4. discolored or foxed:

   pages of a book that had become foxy.

5. (of a wine) having the pronounced flavor natural to native American grape varieties, as that of fox grapes or of Concord or Catawba grapes.
6. (especially of a painting) having excessively warm tones; containing too much red.

foxy

/ ˈfɒksɪ /

adjective

1. of or resembling a fox, esp in craftiness
2. smelling strongly like a fox
3. of a reddish-brown colour
4. (of paper, wood, etc) spotted, esp by mildew
5. (of wine) having the flavour of fox grapes
6. (of oats) having a musty smell as a result of getting wet, fermenting, and drying out
7. slang.
   sexy; sexually attractive

Derived Forms

• ˈfoxily, adverb
• ˈfoxiness, noun

Other Words From

• foxi·ly adverb
• foxi·ness noun
• un·foxy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of foxy¹

1520–30; 1960–65 foxy fordef 3; fox + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Toss in a few weaselly bad guys, some luxe international locales and a selection of foxy evening gowns, and you’ve got a movie.

From Time

Pig [growling sotto voce behind his hand, mock-furtive as a Disneyland Foxy Loxy]: Take 35 percent off the top and split!

From The Daily Beast

An adult-entertainment company wants Foxy Knoxy to take a paltry sum of money to extend her 15 minutes of infamy.

From The Daily Beast

Vines that grow native in America (vitis labrusca, among others) are known for “foxy” or musky aromas and flavors.

From The Daily Beast

Winston Ross and Barbie Latza Nadeau on Foxy Knoxy's next act.

From The Daily Beast

According to one report, the foxy feminist supports a Facebook group called “Men Should Wear the Veil.”

From The Daily Beast

The game did not work, for no man can both make and accept an offer at the same time, and that is what the foxy uncle tried to do.

From Project Gutenberg

In this foxy nature the wolf was not wanting, and under strong impulse he could be somewhat of a Pizarro.

From Project Gutenberg

"Good-bye, sir," he said as he went away, for he knew Foxy Braxted really rather liked him.

From Project Gutenberg

"Now the foxy little thing wants to incline mother to be comforted by pretending to pity them," Kurt declared.

From Project Gutenberg

"That's where you are sensible," declared the man with the foxy face.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• attractive
• beautiful
• glamorous
• gorgeous
• sexy

About This Word

What does foxy mean?

Foxy is most commonly used as a slang word for sexy or attractive, as in I want to look really foxy for my reunion. 

Because it can sound a bit silly or old-fashioned, it’s sometimes used in a way that’s intended to be somewhat ironic or humorous (though this is not always the case.)

Foxy can also be used to describe someone or something as clever or crafty, as in He’s a foxy competitor—don’t underestimate him. However, the expression clever as a fox is more commonly used to mean the same thing.

Much less commonly, foxy can describe something as being a reddish-brown color that resembles the fur of a red fox, as in I like that foxy orange one. 

Example: You look positively foxy—what’s the occasion? 

Where does foxy come from?

The first records of the word foxy come from around 1520, with the slang use dating to around 1960. It combines the word fox, referring to the animal, and the adjective suffix -y, essentially meaning “like” (making foxy the same as foxlike). Foxes are commonly regarded as being sly or crafty animals.

Some well-known uses of the slang sense of foxy are in titles of the 1974 movie Foxy Brown and the 1968 song “Foxy Lady” by the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to foxy?

• foxily (adverb)
• foxiness (noun)
• unfoxy (adjective)

What are some synonyms for foxy?

• sexy
• crafty
• sly
• wily
• clever
• clever as a fox

What are some words that share a root or word element with foxy? 

• fox

What are some words that often get used in discussing foxy?

• attractive
• outfit
• lady
• guy

How is foxy used in real life?

Foxy is most used as another way of saying “sexy.”

I modeled for the original silhouette of a foxy woman on truckers' mudflaps.

— Paula Pell (@perlapell) June 21, 2013

Peter O'toole was a great (foxy) man and wonderful actor. One great film to watch is The Ruling Class from 1972. Super weird and funny. RIP

— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) December 16, 2013

You don't even see foxy ladies no more. They left in the 80's. Your oldest aunt is probably the only foxy lady left in the family.

— Karlous (@KarlousM) April 26, 2016

Try using foxy!

Is foxy used correctly in the following sentence?

The entrepreneur is known for foxy business moves that often outwit her competitors.