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

The brand’s Classic Pecan Pie Ice Cream combines rich brown sugar ice cream with roasted pecans and, of course, pieces of flaky pie crust swirled with a pecan pie filling. — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2026

Glycerin adds another layer of hydration, making this a particularly good option when very dry skin also feels rough or flaky. — Danielle James, Glamour, 25 Sep. 2026

The crust was crisp and golden, hiding a rich, savory filling of smoky, tender brisket and melted cheese that captured the essence of a classic Philly cheesesteak, wrapped in a warm, flaky shell. — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 24 Sep. 2026

From carne asada and crispy pork carnitas to easy chicken tacos, flaky fish, and plenty of vegetarian options, these taco recipes cover quick weeknight dinners, easy breakfast options, and more ambitious weekend projects, too. — Emma Laperruque, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Sep. 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