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

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

Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top and serve extra cheese on the side. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026

Either method helps melt concealer into the skin without disturbing your base or lifting flaky patches. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 Sep. 2026

Add fresh limes, a bottle of their Tequila Blanco (where carried in stores), and a rim of flaky salt. — Danielle Bouchard, Martha Stewart, 18 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