leaky

adjective

ˈlē-kē 

leakier; leakiest

: permitting fluid to leak in or out

leakily

ˈlē-kə-lē 

adverb

leakiness

ˈlē-kē-nəs 

noun

Examples of leaky in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

By degrading and recycling the mucus layer, Akkermansia stimulates the gut to produce fresh, healthy mucus — repairing the intestinal barrier and preventing leaky gut. —Shimite Obialo, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

The director had a leaky heart, meaning one of his valves wasn’t fully sealing, and was rushed into emergency surgery after the discovery was made. —Ellise Shafer, Variety, 20 May 2026

Repair leaky pipes, improve ventilation, and eliminate standing water. —Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 May 2026

That Wednesday night, Larry and I went back to our leaky tent once more, while Roland and Lee took to the Maule and tried to sleep with their knees under their chins. —Ben East, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

leak entry 1 or leak entry 2 + -y entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for leaky

• cheeky
• creaky
• freaky
• kiki
• sneaky
• squeaky
• streaky

Kids Definition

leaky

adjective

ˈlē-kē 

leakier; leakiest

: permitting fluid to leak in or out

a leaky boat

leakiness noun

Medical Definition

leaky

adjective

ˈlē-kē 

: relating to or being a mutant gene that changes the structure of the protein and especially an enzyme that it determines so that some but not all of its biological activity is lost

also : being such a protein with subnormal activity