picky
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of picky
Explanation
If you're extremely particular or fussy, you're picky. A picky eater might only eat chicken nuggets and tater tots. When you invite your picky friend to dinner, you'll probably have a hard time deciding what to serve, since she hates all vegetables; and if you're picky about sleeping in a comfortable, clean place, you might not be a fan of camping. Picky people are hard to please — they like things to be a certain way. This informal word first appeared in the 1860s.
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.
Next, make a list of foods to try, said Jennifer Thomas, co-director of the Eating Disorders Clinical and Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital and co-author of “The Picky Eater’s Recovery Book.”
From Washington Post • May 18, 2022
For example, he ironically would answer any criticism with the catchphrase: "Picky, picky, picky."
From Salon • Mar. 13, 2022
Picky eaters, vegetarians, and cookie connoisseurs, to name a few, can be tough when it comes to wowing their discerning palates.
From Fox News • Dec. 10, 2021
My parents were in the process of trying to explain that I was African American, to which I’d respond, “No, I’m Picky Picky,” and I identified as such for quite some time.
From Slate • Mar. 11, 2020
"Picky, isn't he? Okay. Let's get this over with. I'm so jet-lagged I can hardly keep my eyes open."
From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins
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.
