pasty

¹ American  

[pey-stee] / ˈpeɪ sti /

adjective

pastier, pastiest

1. of or like paste in consistency, texture, color, etc.

   Synonyms:

   sallow, wan, ashy, ashen, pale

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noun

pasties plural

1. pasties, a pair of small, cuplike coverings for the nipples of a stripper, nude model, etc.

pasty ² American  

[pas-tee] / ˈpæs ti /

noun

Chiefly British.

pasties plural

1. a pie filled with game, fish, or the like.

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pasty ¹ British  

/ ˈpeɪstɪ /

adjective

1. of or like the colour, texture, etc, of paste

2. (esp of the complexion) pale or unhealthy-looking

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noun

1. either one of a pair of small round coverings for the nipples used by striptease dancers

pasty ² British  

/ ˈpæstɪ /

noun

1. a round of pastry folded over a filling of meat, vegetables, etc

   Cornish pasty

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Other Word Forms

• pastily
  adverb
• pastiness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of pasty¹

1650–60 pasty ¹ for def. 1; 1950–55 pasty ¹ for def. 2; paste + -y ¹ pasty ¹ ( for def. 1 ), -y ² pasty ¹ ( for def. 2 )

Origin of pasty²

1250–1300; Middle English pastee < Middle French. See pâté

Example Sentences

Morrisons claimed it was exempt from the so-called "pasty tax" - an added 20% VAT on hot food - as most customers consumed the cooked chickens cold or reheated them later.

From BBC • Dec. 17, 2025

Watching Will Ferrell in prison booty shorts showing off his pasty white legs feels like a crazy way to soothe the Sunday scaries.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2025

And, of course, the town still cherishes and serves up the pasty.

From New York Times • Apr. 8, 2024

In a large bowl, mash the rice with a fork until smooth and pasty.

From Washington Times • Sep. 27, 2023

Hill was sitting with his hat down over his eyes, slouching in the saddle, a pasty illness in his face.

From "The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War" by Michael Shaara