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Synonyms

potty

1 American  
[pot-ee] / ˈpɒt i /

adjective

pottier, pottiest

  1. Chiefly British Informal. slightly insane; eccentric.

  2. British. paltry; trifling; petty.

potty 2 American  
[pot-ee] / ˈpɒt i /

noun

plural

potties

  1. a seat of reduced size fitting over a toilet seat, for use by a small child.

  2. a small metal pot fitting under a potty-chair.

  3. Baby Talk. a toilet.

potty 1 British  
/ ˈpɒtɪ /

adjective

  1. foolish or slightly crazy

  2. trivial or insignificant

  3. very keen (about)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
potty 2 British  
/ ˈpɒtɪ /

noun

  1. a child's word for chamber pot

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of potty1

First recorded in 1855–60; pot 1 + -y 1

Origin of potty2

First recorded in 1840–50; pot 1 + -y 2

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.

The judges have also been scathing in their criticism of the temple board for "wrongfully permitting " Mr Potty "to retain approximately 474.9g of gold" after the repairs.

From BBC • Nov. 4, 2025

Naely recommends getting a Squatty Potty, a curved stool around your toilet which elevates your feet and puts your body in the optimal position to have healthy bowel movements.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2022

Everything from Toni Morrison’s “Beloved” to Dav Pilkey’s “Captain Underpants and the Preposterous Plight of the Purple Potty People” is being consigned to the metaphorical fire.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 6, 2022

Potty humor is also in the mix, courtesy of Spike the dog.

From Washington Post • Mar. 3, 2021

A swirling human figure erupted from the sand—Leo’s least favorite goddess, the Mistress of Mud, the Princess of Potty Sludge, Gaea herself.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

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.