leaky

[ lee-kee ]

adjective

, leak·i·er, leak·i·est.

1. allowing liquid, gas, etc., to enter or escape:

   a leaky boat; a leaky container.

2. Informal. unreliable:

   a leaky memory; a leaky tongue.

leaky

/ ˈliːkɪ /

adjective

1. leaking or tending to leak

Derived Forms

• ˈleakiness, noun

Other Words From

• leaki·ness noun
• un·leaky adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of leaky¹

First recorded in 1600–10; leak + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Charlton House in Greenwich, south-east London, was built in 1612 and repaired following damage caused in the Blitz, but a leaky roof is affecting its historic interior so it has been added to the register.

From BBC

The money from the last successful school bond, passed by voters in 2016, has been spent, and school districts report aging buildings, hazardous mold and leaky roofs.

From Los Angeles Times

Thus begins Kaplan’s mad scramble for sanity, as the TV writer tries to plug the leaky vessel that is his life, which he chronicles in cringey detail in his book.

From Los Angeles Times

“Abbott” works because it’s about people whose social and economic class designation brought them to the same leaky vessel and challenged them to steer it.

From Salon

Hundreds of old and leaky school buildings in England still don’t have builders assigned to them - even though they’re on a flagship government rebuilding programme, the BBC has found.

From BBC

Related Words

• broken
• cracked
• faulty