ratchet

¹ American  

[rach-it] / ˈrætʃ ɪt /

Also ratched

adjective

Slang.

1. flashy, unrefined, etc.; low-class.

   ratchet girls wearing too much makeup.

2. exhibiting or affirming low-class traits in a way that is considered authentic.

   Better to stay a ratchet bitch than become a bougie poser like her.

3. extremely good; awesome.

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ratchet ² American  

[rach-it] / ˈrætʃ ɪt /

noun

1. a toothed bar with which a pawl engages.

2. (not in technical use) a pawl or the like used with a ratchet or ratchet wheel.

3. a mechanism consisting of such a bar or wheel with the pawl.

4. ratchet wheel.

5. a steady progression up or down.

   the upward ratchet of oil prices.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to move by degrees (often followed by up ordown ).

   to ratchet prices up;

   Interest rates have been ratcheting downward.

ratchet British  

/ ˈrætʃɪt /

noun

1. a device in which a toothed rack or wheel is engaged by a pawl to permit motion in one direction only

2. the toothed rack or wheel forming part of such a device

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verb

1. to operate using a ratchet

2. to increase or decrease, esp irreversibly

   electricity prices will ratchet up this year

   Hitchcock ratchets up the tension once again

Usage

What else does ratchet mean? Ratchet is a slang term that can mean "exciting" or "excellent," often used as a term of empowerment among women. Some may also use ratchet for when they are feeling "bad" in some way.The term has been previously used, however, as an insult characterizing a woman as being "overdramatic" or "promiscuous."

Other Word Forms

• ratchetness noun

Etymology

Origin of ratchet¹

First recorded in 1990–95; from a dance and genre of hip-hop music originating in Shreveport, Louisiana

Origin of ratchet¹

First recorded in 1650–60; alteration of French rochet; Middle French rocquet “a blunt lance-head,” from Germanic; compare Old High German rocko, roccho “distaff”

Example Sentences

The rise of e-commerce platforms like Shein and Temu in Europe, where consumers are buying cheap couches and beds directly from Chinese sellers, has ratcheted up competition.

From The Wall Street Journal

It ratcheted up the membership fee to stress exclusivity.

From The Wall Street Journal

Then in 2022, interest rates ratcheted higher, making the debt used to fund big buyouts more expensive and effectively ending the buying spree.

From The Wall Street Journal

At the same time, consumers have an increasingly sour view of the economy, as prices stay high for common staples and elevated interest rates ratchet up pressure on household budgets.

From The Wall Street Journal

Investors worried the stock market is overvalued can protect themselves by staying away from names whose price-to-earnings ratios have ratcheted sharply upwards in the past few months.

From Barron's

Related Words

• disk
• drum
• roller