rocky

1 of 2

adjective (1)

ˈrä-kē 

rockier; rockiest

1

: abounding in or consisting of rocks

2

: difficult to impress or affect : insensitive

3

: firmly held : steadfast

rocky

2 of 2

adjective (2)

rockier; rockiest

1

: unstable, wobbly

2

: physically upset or mentally confused (as from drinking excessively)

3

: marked by obstacles or problems : difficult, rough

… a financially rocky year …

—Michael Murray

Examples of rocky in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Or perhaps feces from Vaulted Deep, seaweed from Running Tide, rocky dust from Lithos, or the latest squishy white balls from Spiritus? —Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025

Firefighters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department assisted in retrieving the remains of an unidentified man from the rocky shoreline below. —Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025

Arraial do Cabo’s crystal-blue water, white sand, sea caves, and rocky cliffs are part of what makes the cape so unforgettable. —Aaron Randolph, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025

However the company has had rocky financial performance so far this year that saw sales and profits plunge in the first half of the year, and strong financial headwinds going forward from the loss of US government support for EV sales. —Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

Middle English rokky, from rokke rock

Adjective (2)

rock entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1737, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rocky

• rocky road

Rhymes for rocky

• blocky
• chalky
• cocky
• gawky
• hockey
• jockey
• khaki
• machi
• maki
• stocky
• talkie
• walkie

Kids Definition

rocky

1 of 2 adjective

ˈräk-ē 

rockier; rockiest

: full of or consisting of rocks

rockiness noun

rocky

2 of 2 adjective

rockier; rockiest

1

: weak and confused and unsteady on one's feet

2

: marked by obstacles or problems : difficult

a rocky start

rockiness

-ē-nəs

noun