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

• icy
• frigid
• chilly
• cold
• 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

Blizzard Beach offers frosty thrills like Summit Plummet—one of the world’s tallest and fastest free-fall slides—and pint-sized fun at Tike’s Peak. —Martie Bowser, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025

Windstorms, said Pastelok, along with frosty October temperatures are the biggest concern going forward. —John Tufts, IndyStar, 4 Sep. 2025

Get out to the garden to cut the last of the zinnias before the first frosty night. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2025

State lawmakers have already had discussions about dipping into the rainy day fund to counter any federal cuts, but Wu may miss out on that because of her frosty relationship with Senate President Karen Spilka. —Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 23 Aug. 2025

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