sassy

¹

[ sas-ee ]

adjective

, Informal.

, sas·si·er, sas·si·est.

1. disrespectful or impudent; impertinent; insolent:

   Don't get sassy with me!

2. boldly stylish and smart; pert:

   a sassy red handbag.

sassy

²

[ sas-ee ]

noun

1. sassy bark.

sassy

¹

/ 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

sassy

²

/ ˈsæsɪ /

adjective

1. informal.
   insolent, impertinent

Derived Forms

• ˈsassiness, noun
• ˈsassily, adverb

Other Words From

• sas·si·ness noun
• sas·si·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sassy¹

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

Origin of sassy²

First recorded in 1855–60; of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of sassy¹

C19: probably from a language of the Kwa family: compare Twi sese plane tree, Ewe sesewu a kind of timber tree

Origin of sassy²

C19: variant of saucy

Example Sentences

In written evidence to the inquest, Hayley Senior, Miss Senior's mother, had told the hearing her daughter had grown up as “a happy, sassy and really jolly girl”.

From BBC

My book was called “Fräulein,” which means a sassy kind of woman, which my pictures are about.

From Los Angeles Times

I loved those days and those beautiful evenings filled with quick wit and sassy banter, and this cocktail tastes just like all of it poured into a glass.

From Salon

What Have You Done For Me Lately was a sassy retort to DeBarge, while Nasty was written after Janet and her friend were harassed by a group of men on the streets of Minnesota.

From BBC

El Periódico newspaper said "a young Spain, sassy and reinvigorated, has become the mirror for a country which has changed and is multi-racial and diverse".

From BBC