adjective
cock′i·er, cock′i·estInformal jauntily conceited or overbearing; self-confident in an aggressive or swaggering way
Origin of cocky
from cock + -y
adjective
The definition of cocky is someone who is overly self-confident.
Someone who is very arrogant and assumes they know all the answers is an example of cocky.
YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2018 by LoveToKnow Corp
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"cocky." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 19 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Cocky>.
APA Style
cocky. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Cocky
cocky
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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Cite this page
MLA Style
"cocky." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 19 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Cocky>.
APA Style
cocky. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Cocky
cocky
adjective
cock·i·er, cock·i·estOverly self-assertive or self-confident.
Related Forms:
- cock′i·ly
adverb
- cock′i·ness
noun
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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Cite this page
MLA Style
"cocky." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 19 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Cocky>.
APA Style
cocky. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Cocky
Noun
(plural cockies)
- Abbreviation of cockatoo; used when pretending to talk to such a bird, as in "hello cocky".
- (Australia, New Zealand, colloquial) A cockatoo farmer.
- (New Zealand, informal) A sheep farmer.
Usage notes
- (farmer): In both Australia and New Zealand, forms such as sheep cocky (sheep farmer) and cow cocky (dairy farmer) exist. In New Zealand, cocky is often synonymous with sheep cocky, due to the relative importance of the industry.
Origin
From cockatoo (“type of bird”) + -y (“diminutive suffix”).
Origin
From cocksure + -y (“having quality of”).
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
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Cite this page
MLA Style
"cocky." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 19 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Cocky>.
APA Style
cocky. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Cocky
Sentence Examples
- Don't act like you're overly confident or cocky, but aim to please on all counts.
- Let's say you are on a first date with a person who is showing signs that he/she is not attracted to you, such as putting up barriers, no hint of mirroring, assuming the posture of a cocky individual trying to impress other people.
- Actor Val Kilmer has got to have the cocky confidence of his long ago alter ego Iceman in Top Gun as he has been quoted as saying that "…I'm going to be the next governor" should he decide to enter the political arena.
- The problem for James came when he got a little too cocky and self-assured, and put too much trust in his alliance.
- Once you let your guard down you are out, and if you become cocky your flames is gone.
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