frosty

adjective

ˈfrȯ-stē 

frostier; frostiest

1

a

: attended with or producing frost : freezing

b

: briskly cold : chilly

2

: covered or appearing as if covered with frost : hoary

… a man of 65, with frosty eyebrows and hair …

—Nan Robertson

3

: marked by coolness or extreme reserve in manner

… his smile was distinctly frosty.

—Erle Stanley Gardner

frostily

ˈfrȯ-stə-lē 

adverb

frostiness

ˈfrȯ-stē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of frosty

• icy
• cold
• frigid
• chilly
• freezing
• chill
• cool

Examples of frosty in a Sentence

We received a frosty welcome.

a frosty autumn that was a sign of the brutal winter that followed

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition to frosty glasses of Thai iced coffees and teas, there's tart housemade lemonade and delicately floral lychee lemonade. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Nov. 2026

Floor tiles broken in the dish area and around the frosty machine. — Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026

During the frosty season, the sleigh rides are a big hit with families. — Lindsay Cohn, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026

Between spring’s soft pastels and winter’s frosty hues, everyone has a palette preference, seasonal shades that suit them best. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

frosty

adjective

ˈfrȯ-stē 

frostier; frostiest

1

: cold enough to produce frost

a frosty night

2

: covered or appearing to be covered with frost

a frosty glass

3

: cool in manner

frostily

-stə-lē 

adverb

frostiness

-stē-nəs 

noun