racier; raciest
1
a
: full of zest or vigor
b
: having a strongly marked quality : piquant
a racy flavor
c
: risqué, suggestive
racy jokes
2
: having the distinctive quality of something in its original or most characteristic form
racily adverb
raciness noun

racy

2 of 2

adjective (2)

racier; raciest
: having a body or shape that is suited for racing
a racy dog
a car with racy lines
Choose the Right Synonym for racy

pungent, piquant, poignant, racy mean sharp and stimulating to the mind or the senses.

pungent implies a sharp, stinging, or biting quality especially of odors.

a cheese with a pungent odor

piquant suggests a power to whet the appetite or interest through tartness or mild pungency.

a piquant sauce

poignant suggests something is sharply or piercingly effective in stirring one's emotions.

felt a poignant sense of loss

racy implies having a strongly characteristic natural quality fresh and unimpaired.

spontaneous, racy prose

Examples of racy in a Sentence

Adjective (1) vivid writing and a racy plot that keeps readers turning the pages a raunchy comedy with language that was a little too racy for an eight-year-old child
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Alix Earle posed in a sexy dress that featured racy side cutouts. Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025 Sizzling Performance Camilla Cabello performs in a racy lingerie look onstage at the Hordern Pavilion during her Yours, C tour stop in Sydney on Aug. 30. Escher Walcott, People.com, 30 Aug. 2025 Sabrina Carpenter is responding to criticism over her racy image. Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2025 The racy sequence even inspired the creation of Elordi bathwater-scented candles, although the actor was not involved in the manufacturing or sale of the products. Edward Segarra, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for racy

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

race entry 1

Adjective (2)

race entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

circa 1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective (2)

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of racy was circa 1650

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Racy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racy. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

racy

1 of 2 adjective
racier; raciest
1
: full of energy or keen enjoyment
2
: slightly indecent or improper
racy jokes
racily adverb
raciness noun

racy

2 of 2 adjective
racier; raciest
: being long-bodied and lean

More from Merriam-Webster on racy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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