frisky
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of frisky
Explanation
The adjective frisky means playful or lively. Your frisky puppy likes to play tug-of-war with your socks, whether they're on or off your feet. Frisky is from the Middle English word frisk, which in turn was based on the Old French word frisque. In all cases, the words mean lively and merry. Frisky is often used to describe animals, but the term is also sometimes used as a mild euphemism for being playfully affectionate.
Vocabulary lists containing frisky
Dog Vocabulary: A Canine Lexicon
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"The Landlady" by Roald Dahl
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Unit 1, Words to Know
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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.
High-end and low-end customers alike adored his frisky, unpredictable spirit — both on and off the runway.
From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026
Fans are feeling frisky about a plan to transform the building into a bar, campaigning against the idea in letters to city board members and online.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026
The S&P 500 is up a frisky 15% so far this year.
From Barron's • Oct. 10, 2025
I love “Cocos en la Playa” — a frisky, beautiful tropical song that’s so lovely and authentic.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 28, 2025
It’s great having four big, frisky German shepherds around; we’ve come such a long way since the days when Adria and I had to beg our dad for just one dog.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
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.
