English Meaning & Definitions
Impertinent or irreverent, typically in a playful, endearing, or mildly annoying way.
- “She gave me a cheeky smile when I asked who ate the last piece of cake.”
- “It was a bit cheeky of him to ask for a promotion after only two weeks on the job.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “cheeky”.
Derived from 'cheek' in the sense of 'impudence' or 'audacity', which dates back to the mid-19th century in British slang. The noun 'cheek' meaning 'insolent speech' emerged around the early 1800s, building upon the literal facial part, and the adjective 'cheeky' followed shortly after to describe someone or something displaying impertinent, often charmingly disrespectful behavior.
Imagine someone sticking their tongue out with a smart grin on their *cheek*, acting playfully bold and cheeky.
Frequently Asked Questions About “cheeky”
1. What is the meaning of “cheeky” in English?
In English, cheeky (adjective) is defined as: “Impertinent or irreverent, typically in a playful, endearing, or mildly annoying way.”.
2. How do you use “cheeky” in a sentence?
“She gave me a cheeky smile when I asked who ate the last piece of cake.”
3. What are English synonyms of “cheeky”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “cheeky”?
Derived from 'cheek' in the sense of 'impudence' or 'audacity', which dates back to the mid-19th century in British slang. The noun 'cheek' meaning 'insolent speech' emerged around the early 1800s, building upon the literal facial part, and the adjective 'cheeky' followed shortly after to describe someone or something displaying impertinent, often charmingly disrespectful behavior.
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