flaky

1 of 2

adjective (1)

ˈflā-kē 

variants or less commonly flakey

flakier; flakiest

1

: consisting of flakes

flaky snow

2

: tending to flake

a flaky crust

flaky

2 of 2

adjective (2)

flakier; flakiest

1

: markedly odd or unconventional : offbeat, wacky

has some flaky ideas

He's nice, but a bit flaky.

2

informal : not reliable in performance or behavior : undependable

a flaky mechanism

You'll want to make sure that all the technology tools you need to effectively and efficiently serve clients are in full working order and that you won't need to worry about wasting time and money fixing broken hardware or flaky software.

—Henry B. Chace

… digital crutches trump face-to-face talking (even phone calls), encouraging people to be flaky and evasive …

—Charlotte Liberman

Synonyms of flaky

Adjective (1)

• brittle
• crisp
• crisped

Examples of flaky in a Sentence

Adjective (1)

a tender but flaky crust on the pastry

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and allow the marshmallow mixture to cool completely. — ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026

Jammy onions, sharp cheese, and a literal mountain of cabbage cook down into a rustic gratin in a flaky crust. — Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026

All of that dry, flaky skin will slough right off while the balm covers your lips in a cocoon of hydration. — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 31 Oct. 2026

The rich, silky formula coats the lips with collagen-boosting peptides, Brazilian acai butter, and African mongongo butter to plump and lock in moisture, while lactic acid and hibiscus flower enzymes buff away dry, flaky texture. — Tasha Nicole Smith, Allure, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

see flake entry 1

Adjective (2)

flake entry 4

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

circa 1963, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for flaky

• reiki
• shaky
• snaky

Kids Definition

flaky

adjective

ˈflā-kē

flakier; flakiest

1

: consisting of flakes

2

: tending to flake

pie with a crisp flaky crust

3

: odd or strange in behavior

4

informal : not reliable : undependable

flakily

-kə-lē

adverb

flakiness

-kē-nəs

noun