What does "gypsy" mean?
Alternative form of Gypsy (“member of the Romani people”).
Gypsy
/ˈd͡ʒɪp.si/ adj, name, noun, verb, slang
adj, name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Alternative form of Gypsy (“member of the Romani people”).
- Grammar: gypsy is listed as adj, name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: itinerant, romani, arab, bohemian.
- Useful contrasts: accurate ethnonym, non Romani, respectful term.
- Usage evidence: The old gypsy moved her hand over the crystal ball and, peering inside, beheld my future.
How to use "gypsy"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "gypsy" 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 "gypsy" 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 "gypsy" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "gypsy" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- 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 "gypsy" is acting as adj, name, 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 "itinerant" 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 "gypsy", 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 Alternative form of Gypsy (“member of the Romani people”). alt-of, alternative, offensive, sometimes
"He championed the music of the gypsies as he did the Muslim and Jewish roots of Spanish culture. […] All these and more were fused in the forge of the gypsy experience into a singular art form, unlike any of its sources, evoking its own worldview, its own existential stance."
- 2 A member of the Romani people, or one of the sub-groups (Roma, Sinti, Romanichal, etc). offensive, sometimes
- 3 the Indic language of the Romani wordnet
- 4 An itinerant person or any person, not necessarily Romani; a tinker, a traveller or a carny. colloquial
"Like a right gypsy, hath, at fast and loose, Beguiled me to the very heart of loss."
- 5 A member of other nomadic peoples, not only of the Romani people; a traveller. Alternative spelling of gypsy
Show 9 more definitions
- 6 a person who resembles a Romani in leading an unconventional, nomadic way of life wordnet
- 7 A move in contra dancing in which two dancers walk in a circle around each other while maintaining eye contact (but not touching as in a swing). (Compare whole gyp, half gyp, and gypsy meltdown, in which this step precedes a swing.) offensive, sometimes
- 8 a member of a people with dark skin and hair who speak Romany and who traditionally live by seasonal work and fortunetelling; they are believed to have originated in northern India but now are living on all continents (but mostly in Europe, North Africa, and North America) wordnet
- 9 A member of a Broadway musical chorus line.
- 10 a laborer who moves from place to place as demanded by employment wordnet
- 11 A person with a dark complexion. dated
- 12 A sly, roguish woman. dated
- 13 A fortune teller. colloquial, dated
- 14 A whitewashed South Asian. offensive, sometimes
Verb
- 1 To roam around the country like a gypsy. intransitive
"The rest of the day is spent out of doors "Gypsying", and families greatly enjoy themselves on these occasions."
- 2 To perform the gypsy step in contra dancing.
"Look at the person you're gypsying with, and convey the message that you notice them as a person and that you're glad that they're there, […]"
Adjective
- 1 Alternative form of Gypsy: of or belonging to the Romani people. alt-of, alternative, not-comparable
- 2 Of or belonging to the Romani people or one of it sub-groups (Roma, Sinti, Romanichel, etc). not-comparable, offensive, sometimes
- 3 Of or having the qualities of an itinerant person or group with qualities traditionally ascribed to Romani people; making a living from dishonest practices or theft etc. not-comparable, offensive
Proper Noun
- 1 The language Romani. offensive, rare, sometimes
- 2 A female given name.
""Why, good afternoon, Miss Gypsy," said Sir Simms; "I'm surprised to see you such a warm day — very much surprised. But you always were a remarkable young lady ...""
Antonyms
Example
"The old gypsy moved her hand over the crystal ball and, peering inside, beheld my future."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "gypsy"?
Common synonyms include: itinerant, romani, arab, bohemian, english, gipsies.
How do you use "gypsy" in a sentence?
The old gypsy moved her hand over the crystal ball and, peering inside, beheld my future.
How do you pronounce "gypsy"?
Pronounced /ˈd͡ʒɪp.si/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
See Gypsy. Compare bohemian, from Bohemia.
Etymology 2
A clipping of Gyptian (in Early Modern English roughly /ˈd͡ʒɪp.sɪ.æn/), itself an apheretic form of Egyptian, from Middle English Egipcian (“Egyptian”) (rarely Gypcian), from Old French egyptien, from Latin aegyptianus, from aegyptius (“Egypt”), because when Roma first appeared in England in the sixteenth century, they were wrongly believed to have come from Egypt. The Albanian evgjit, Greek γύφτος (gýftos), Italian gitano, Spanish gitano and Turkish Kıpti have the same origin. Doublet of Egyptian and Copt. The other major categories of words for the Roma are cognates of Rom (words related to the Romani people's autonyms) and cognates of tzigane (words derived from Greek); see those entries for more information.