tartier; tartiest
informal + disapproving
: boldly sexy in a way that is considered vulgar or immodest
—usually used of a woman or her clothing, makeup, etc.
… unabashedly tarty high heels.—Elle
Her creations have inspired great loyalty. "They make you look sexy without feeling tarty," says [actress Catherine] Oxenberg.—Bonnie Johnson

Examples of tarty in a Sentence

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.
Some fruits can lack freshness and become less sweet or tarty under stress. — Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

tart entry 2

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tarty was in 1918

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tarty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tarty. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster