racy

[ rey-see ]

adjective

, rac·i·er, rac·i·est.

1. slightly improper or indelicate; suggestive; risqué.
2. vigorous; lively; spirited.

   Synonyms: animated

   Antonyms: slow

3. sprightly; piquant; pungent:

   a racy literary style.

   Synonyms: strong

4. having an agreeably peculiar taste or flavor, as wine, fruit, etc.

racy

/ ˈreɪsɪ /

adjective

1. (of a person's manner, literary style, etc) having a distinctively lively and spirited quality; fresh
2. having a characteristic or distinctive flavour

   a racy wine

3. suggestive; slightly indecent; risqué

   a racy comedy

Derived Forms

• ˈracily, adverb
• ˈraciness, noun

Other Words From

• raci·ly adverb
• raci·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of racy¹

First recorded in 1645–55; race ² + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Gomez experienced that trust firsthand when an early demo written for Jessi that she deemed too racy was cut from the film.

From Los Angeles Times

Framed on a clubhouse foyer was a racy 1990 Playboy magazine cover featuring Trump and Playmate Brandi Brandt, who has his tuxedo jacket wrapped around her otherwise nude body.

From Los Angeles Times

He palled around with Madonna, dated Naomi Campbell and directed a couple of Nine Inch Nails videos — one of which, “Pinion,” was so racy that MTV wouldn’t play the full thing on air.

From Los Angeles Times

“Alive and well! Don’t worry… I didn’t swallow,” she wrote, referring to a racy “Clueless” quip and posting an old glamour shot.

From Los Angeles Times

It was a racy variation on a schoolboy’s shorts, with suspenders rising between the cleavage.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bawdy
• erotic
• lewd
• lurid
• naughty
• off-color
• suggestive