sassy

¹ American  

[sas-ee] / ˈsæs i /

adjective

Informal.

sassier, sassiest

1. disrespectful or impudent; impertinent; insolent.

   Don't get sassy with me!

2. boldly stylish and smart; pert.

   a sassy red handbag.

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sassy ² American  

[sas-ee] / ˈsæs i /

noun

1. sassy bark.

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sassy ¹ British  

/ ˈsæsˌwʊd, ˈsæsɪ /

noun

1. a W African leguminous tree, Erythrophleum guineense, with poisonous bark ( sassy bark ) and hard strong wood

2. the bark or wood of this tree or the alkaloid derived from them, which is sometimes used in medicine

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sassy ² British  

/ ˈsæsɪ /

adjective

1. informal insolent, impertinent

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Other Word Forms

• sassily adverb
• sassiness noun

Etymology

Origin of sassy¹

An Americanism dating back to 1830–1835; alteration of saucy

Origin of sassy²

First recorded in 1855–60; of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

The story’s sassy, brassy antihero has likewise adorned Christmas trees and school library shelves for generations.

From Los Angeles Times

When she is at home, Fahima said her daughter is "very sassy, very loud, loves singing and dancing", with a love of music, Disney films and arts and crafts.

From BBC

One of its popular synthetic hosts is Vivian Steele, an AI celebrity gossip columnist with a sassy voice and a sharp tongue.

From Los Angeles Times

The invisible social line—which, if crossed, might make her think I was sassy—was narrow and was applied arbitrarily.

From Literature

But she soon began to steal the limelight on the TV series with her sassy personality and glamorous looks.

From BBC