matey

¹ American  

[mey-tee] / ˈmeɪ ti /

noun

Chiefly British Informal.

plural

mateys

1. comrade; chum; buddy.

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matey ² American  

[mey-tee] / ˈmeɪ ti /

adjective

Chiefly British Informal.

1. sociable; friendly.

   a matey chat.

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matey British  

/ ˈmeɪtɪ /

adjective

1. friendly or intimate; on good terms

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noun

1. friend or fellow: usually used in direct address

Other Word Forms

• mateyness noun
• matiness noun

Etymology

Origin of matey¹

First recorded in 1825–35; mate ¹ + -y ²

Origin of matey¹

First recorded in 1910–15; mate ¹ + -y ¹

Example Sentences

“Ahoy, matey!” it croaked, blinking at the audience.

From Literature

Everyone says “Aye, matey,” and just like that, I’m president of a brand-new club.

From Literature

It doesn't match his public persona of the matey, personable, empathetic royal.

From BBC

“You don’t get matey with the Queen,” recalled former British prime minister Tony Blair.

From Washington Post

Former prime minister Tony Blair wrote in his memoirs, too, that she might be “matey with you, but don’t try to reciprocate or you get ‘The Look.’

From Washington Post