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Synonyms

sexy

American  
[sek-see] / ˈsɛk si /

adjective

sexier, sexiest

  1. concerned predominantly or excessively with sex; risqué.

    a sexy novel.

  2. sexually interesting or exciting; radiating sexuality.

    the sexy supermodel on the cover of a magazine.

  3. excitingly appealing; glamorous.

    a sexy new car.
sexy British  
/ ˈsɛksɪ /

adjective

  1. provoking or intended to provoke sexual interest

    a sexy dress

    a sexy book

  2. feeling sexual interest; aroused

  3. interesting, exciting, or trendy

    a sexy project

    a sexy new car
"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

Usage

What is a basic definition of sexy? Sexy describes something as arousing interest related to sex, having a large amount of sex-related content, or being very exciting.If something is sexy, it causes sexual arousal in people who are exposed to it or it is designed to emphasize sexual matters. Sexy can be used to describe both other people and objects. A person may describe themselves as sexy if they feel confident and attractive. Something that is more sexually arousing than something else is sexier, and something that is the most arousing is sexiest.

  • Real-life examples: Models often wear sexy clothing in advertisements. Exotic dancers perform sexy dances to entertain customers. People magazine annually ranks the sexiest men alive.
  • Used in a sentence: The actor recited the lines using a sexy voice. 
Sexy can also mean that something is mostly focused on sex.
  • Real-life examples: Pornography often takes the form of sexy movies. Romance novels are often (but not always) sexy books. Singer Barry White is famous for writing many sexy songs.
  • Used in a sentence: Joe hid his sexy magazines so his little brother wouldn’t find them. 
The word sexy is also used to describe something that is exciting, glamorous, or flashy.
  • Real-life examples: A shiny new sports car might be described as a sexy car. A laptop that is sleek and eye catching may be said to have a sexy design.
  • Used in a sentence: Paying your rent might not be sexy, but it keeps a roof over your head.
The word sexual is similar to sexy and may be used to describe the same things. However, sexual is used to mean something involving sex and not just arousal.

Other Word Forms

  • sexily adverb
  • sexiness noun
  • unsexy adjective

Etymology

Origin of sexy

First recorded in 1920–25; sex + -y 1

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.

Tonight, Jillian sees Parker as a surprisingly decent singer who dances in a bouncy and carefree way that is distinctly different from his older brother’s sexy moves.

From Literature

You think it’s going to be sexy, or comedic, or dangerous, it goes off into a different direction.

From Los Angeles Times

Blue Owl plunged head first into lending to software companies—a sector that was both sexy and stable in the pre-AI era.

From The Wall Street Journal

Although cabbage’s relevance as a cultural icon — and a sexy produce star, as The New York Times deemed it — is worth celebrating, the humble vegetable’s existence is more than a mere hot new trend.

From Salon

Next up: “Crime 101,” an ’80s-style crime drama that seeks to recapture the sexy sinuousness and focused intelligence of the work of Michael Mann.

From The Wall Street Journal

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.