naughty

Word parts

naught + -y

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ˈnɔːti/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophone: knotty

Adjective

Positive naughty

Comparative naughtier

Superlative naughtiest

1. If somebody, especially a child or a pet, is naughty, they are not good.

   Oh! Go on you naughty boy. Silly thing. Get out.

   Hannah was described as a bright but naughty child.

   Parents often tell their children what is naughty behaviour but not what is good behaviour.

2. If an adult is naughty, they are a little bit bad, often in a fun or sexual way.

   He just kept putting wine in my glass. It's quite naughty, isn't it?

   She walked out of the shower with a towel just covering her naughty bits.

Synonyms

• bad
• wicked

Related words

• naughtiness
• naughtily