naughty

[ naw-tee ]

adjective

, naugh·ti·er, naugh·ti·est.

1. disobedient; mischievous (used especially in speaking to or about children):

   Weren't we naughty not to eat our spinach?

   Synonyms: wayward, willful

2. improper, tasteless, indecorous, or indecent:

   a naughty word.

3. Obsolete. wicked; evil.

naughty

/ ˈnɔːtɪ /

adjective

1. (esp of children or their behaviour) mischievous or disobedient; bad
2. mildly indecent; titillating

noun

1. slang.
   an act of sexual intercourse

Derived Forms

• ˈnaughtiness, noun
• ˈnaughtily, adverb

Other Words From

• naughti·ly adverb
• naughti·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of naughty¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; naught + -y ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of naughty¹

C14 (originally: needy, of poor quality): from naught

Related Words

• headstrong
• impish
• mischievous
• playful
• rowdy
• wicked