What does "cocky" mean?
Used as a term of endearment, originally for a person of either sex, but later primarily for a man.
Cocky
/ˈkɒk.i/ adj, noun, verb, slang
adj, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Used as a term of endearment, originally for a person of either sex, but later primarily for a man.
- Grammar: cocky is listed as adj, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: action, aggressively self-confident, arch, arrogant.
- Useful contrasts: humble, modest, unpretentious.
- Usage evidence: Keeping Mario in a state in which he can throw fireballs is a delicate process; that newfound power sometimes makes one cocky and careless.
How to use "cocky"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "cocky" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "cocky" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "cocky" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "cocky" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "cocky" is acting as adj, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "action" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "cocky", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Used as a term of endearment, originally for a person of either sex, but later primarily for a man. British, Ireland, Newfoundland, colloquial, dated
"Nay Cocky, Cocky, nay dear Cocky, do not cry, I was but in Jeſt, I was not ifeck [in faith?]."
- 2 A familiar name for a cockatoo. Australia, New-Zealand, informal
"By that time, the white cockatoo—a beautiful bird, as large as a common fowl—would find out the family gathering-place, and waddle along, calling 'Pretty Cocky! Pretty Cocky!' […] Presently, Cocky ruffles his plumage till he looks half as large again as before; he throws his crest, with its double fan of brilliantly yellow feathers, as far forward as possible, and spreads and closes it rapidly."
- 3 Clipping of cockatoo farmer (“small-scale farmer”); (by extension) any farmer or owner of rural land. Australia, New-Zealand, abbreviation, also, alt-of, attributive, clipping, informal
"'I'll get down among the cockies along the Lachlan or some of those rivers,' said Mitchell, throwing down his swag beneath a big tree. 'A man stands a better show down there. [...] One cocky I worked for wanted me to stay with him for good. Sorry I didn't. [...']"
Verb
- 1 To operate a small-scale farm. Australia, New-Zealand, historical, informal, intransitive
"But if we are bigger built than you blokes, I suppose it's 'coz we—most of us—live away from big cities, and everybody goes in for sport an' all that; plenty of ridin' an' walkin' an' swimmin' and football an' hard work. Most of us are off the land, cockeying, and the blokes who come from the cities, Sydney and places like that, they all go in for surfing an' all kinds of sport."
Adjective
- 1 Overly confident; arrogant and boastful.
"And now I think I may be cocky, / Since fortune has ſmurtl'd on me, / I'm Jenny, an' ye ſhall be Jockie, / 'Tis right we together ſud be; [...]"
Adjective
- 1 overly self-confident or self-assertive wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"Keeping Mario in a state in which he can throw fireballs is a delicate process; that newfound power sometimes makes one cocky and careless."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "cocky"?
Common synonyms include: action, aggressively self-confident, arch, arrogant, arrogant, audacious.
How do you use "cocky" in a sentence?
Keeping Mario in a state in which he can throw fireballs is a delicate process; that newfound power sometimes makes one cocky and careless.
How do you pronounce "cocky"?
Pronounced /ˈkɒk.i/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From cock (“male domestic chicken”) + -y (suffix forming adjectives with the sense of ‘having the quality of’).
Etymology 2
From cock (“male domestic chicken”) + -y (diminutive suffix).
Etymology 3
The noun is derived from cock(atoo) + -y (diminutive suffix). The verb is derived from the noun.