naughty
Americanadjective
-
(esp of children or their behaviour) mischievous or disobedient; bad
-
mildly indecent; titillating
noun
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012Usage
What does naughty mean? Naughty means disobedient, mischievous, or generally misbehaving, particularly when applied to children.Naughty is usually used in reference to misbehavior that’s minor or mischievous, as opposed to more serious disobedience. In this way, it’s also sometimes applied to pets.Example: If you kids start to get naughty before bedtime, I’m going to take away your TV privileges. In a much different context, naughty is used to describe things that are sexually suggestive, as in naughty jokes, or things that pertain to sex, often in a way that’s hidden, forbidden, or secret. In this way, it is often used playfully or as a euphemism (a milder substitute of what is being referred to).Example: Oh my God, have you two been doing naughty stuff in the supply shed?
Other Word Forms
- naughtily adverb
- naughtiness noun
Etymology
Origin of naughty
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.
Kelly: Were you a bit of a naughty kid, maybe?
From BBC
But the panel believed the girl, who said she told him early on in their conversations and he replied saying "well it makes it even naughtier then".
From BBC
They call out answers loudly, write on the board, sing songs and there are even a few naughty kids messing around at the back of the class.
From BBC
Earlier in the trial, the court heard Windsor had sent a note calling Ms Klass a "naughty vixen".
From BBC
The trial previously heard he sent a note calling Ms Klass a naughty vixen and wrote Ms Breathwick a letter saying he wanted to go paddling in a lake with both women while drinking champagne.
From BBC
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.
