Showing results for "ratchet"

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Slang dictionary results for ratchet.

ratchet

¹ American  

[rach-it] / ˈrætʃ ɪt /

noun

• ratchets
  plural

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 ² 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 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

Derived Forms

• ratchetness
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• ratchets
  plural

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Etymology

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”

Origin of ratchet²

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

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Explanation

A ratchet is a gadget with mechanical teeth on a wheel that moves in only one direction. Therefore, ratcheting is to move something slowly in one direction. A ratchet is a device that allows you to move or crank something in a specific direction: a ratchet only moves one way. You can tell a ratchet by the wheel of mechanical teeth. Ratchets are part of larger devices, especially in factories. Also, if you ratchet something up or down, you're gradually moving it in that direction. You can ratchet something physically, or a great speaker could ratchet up the energy in a crowd.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ratchet ratchets

A more typical progression is to ratchet down to about 70% equities and 30% in fixed-income products, and then go from there.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026

Later sections where you rely on even cruder tech to spot enemies ratchet up the tension further, at the expense of making the gameplay much slower.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

That logic is a one-way ratchet toward greater A.I. risk.

From Slate ● Sep. 9, 2026

Billions in short-term loans made to affiliates were due to mature by the end of August, which could ratchet a funding squeeze on the Dodgers’ owner.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

A venerable tradition, dating back to the ancient Greek orators, teaches that if you don’t know what you’re talking about, just ratchet up the level of difficulty and no one will ever know.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

The CIA chief also pressed the Russians not to maintain economic or security ties with Iran, as the administration ratchets up its sanctions campaign against Tehran.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

That is until Thatcher ratchets up the eerie tension tenfold while Refn builds his gorgeous fantasy around her.

From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026

For Braun, it ratchets up longer-running challenges of keeping Coke’s brands relevant with a new generation as fewer Americans drink soda and as they tighten their purse strings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026

Woman Is A Tree opens with discordant harmonies, inspired by cult horror show Yellowjackets; while broiling anti-war anthem Rifles ratchets its tempo ever-upwards.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2025

It ratchets up the difficulty level of keeping all these feelings in check.

From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone

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