pokey

1 of 2

noun

po·​key ˈpō-kē 

plural pokeys

slang

: jail

pokey

2 of 2

adjective

pok·​ey

variant spelling of poky

1

: small and cramped

2

: shabby, dull

3

: annoyingly slow

Synonyms of pokey

Noun

• jail
• prison
• penitentiary

Examples of pokey in a Sentence

Noun

joked about the time he passed out on the street and woke up in the pokey

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

For comparison, the Canon CP1500—a speed demon for the 4-by-6-inch photo category—took roughly 40 seconds per photo, while the HP Sprocket Studio Plus averaged a pokey 121 seconds. — M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 2 Aug. 2026

The region’s pokey residential construction pace is a big factor. — Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1919, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pokey

• the pokey

Rhymes for pokey

• cloche
• gnocchi
• loci
• smokey
• smoky
• karaoke