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

That’s not the only fixture to target either, with Liverpool hosting a leaky Fulham defence and Arsenal travelling to Sunderland. — Holly Shand, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Many are in poor shape, with thin, uninsulated walls, leaky windows, old or broken swamp coolers and electrical systems that can't always handle air conditioners. — Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 7 Sep. 2026

But pass coverage was surprisingly leaky at times, both in man coverage and zone. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026

If their new Craftsman-style house seems overlarge for two, with plenty of shelter-mag built-ins, well, Tom is a successful crime novelist and there’s also a leaky attic and a creepy, warrenlike basement to be dealt with. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 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