Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus
1

ticky-tacky

noun \ ˌti-kē-ˈta-kē \
variants: or less commonly ticky-tack play \ˌti-kē-ˈtak\

Definition of ticky-tacky

plural ticky-tackies also ticky-tacks
: sleazy or shoddy material used especially in the construction of look-alike tract houses; also : something built of ticky-tacky

Origin and Etymology of ticky-tacky

reduplication of tacky

2

ticky-tacky

adjective
variants: or less commonly ticky-tack

Definition of ticky-tacky

1 : of an uninspired or monotonous sameness
2 : 2tacky
3 : built of ticky-tacky

First Known Use of ticky-tacky

1964

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

Learn More about ticky-tacky

  1. See words that rhyme with ticky-tacky

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up ticky-tacky? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

thwart

play

to oppose successfully

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. hogwash 'nonsense, balderdash'

  2. probity 'adherence to the highest principles and ideals'

  3. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  4. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  5. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

ticky-tacky

Test Your Vocabulary

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

  • alphabet-pasta-spelling-help
  • Which is the correct spelling?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Bee Cubed

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games