Stickiness
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 The property of sticking or adhering; adhesion. uncountable, usually
"[…] The flesh [of the mistletoe berry] is sticky, and forms strings and ribbons between my thumb and forefinger. For the mistletoe, this viscous goop – and by the way, viscous comes to English from viscum – is crucial. The stickiness means that, after eating the berries, birds often regurgitate the seeds and then wipe their bills on twigs – leading to the seeds' getting glued to the tree, where they can germinate and begin the cycle anew."
- 2 the property of sticking to a surface wordnet
- 3 Warmth and humidity, as on a muggy day. uncountable, usually
- 4 Of prices or wages: the tendency to stay the same despite changes in the economy. uncountable, usually
- 5 The presence of unique attributes that make a product indisposable and valuable to its owner. uncountable, usually
"The stickiness of a cellphone might be measured by its ability to tell correct time, locate its user, and allow its user to remain connected regardless of location."
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- 6 A research measure that captures the extent to which viewers wish to spend more time looking at or reading a print advertisement. uncountable, usually
"The low stickiness rating helped explain why our ad’s brand linkage rating was so low: people were turned off by the blurriness of the main photo."
- 7 An overemotional attachment to others; clinging in interpersonal relations; difficulty with ending conversations. uncountable, usually
Example
More examples"Like lift, there are many factors that affect the magnitude of the drag force including the shape of the aircraft, the "stickiness" of the air, and the velocity of the aircraft."
Etymology
From sticky + -ness.
Related phrases
More for "stickiness"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.