Word
flaky
US/ˈfɫeɪki/
UK/flˈeɪki/
Definition
adj. not reliable or trustworthy. You use this to describe someone who is not serious about their plans or a situation that is difficult to manage.
adj. unreliable, inconsistent, or difficult to manage. Often used to describe a person's behavior or a situation's predictability.
Examples
“He is a bit flaky and often cancels our meetings at the last minute.”
“The project became flaky when the main developer left the team without warning, leaving the rest of us to guess what to do next.”
“While the initial proposal seemed solid, the company's flaky approach to deadlines eventually led to a complete loss of confidence from the board of directors.”
Examples
simple
“He is a bit flaky and often cancels our meetings at the last minute.”
contextual
“The project became flaky when the main developer left the team without warning, leaving the rest of us to guess what to do next.”
complex
“While the initial proposal seemed solid, the company's flaky approach to deadlines eventually led to a complete loss of confidence from the board of directors.”
Real-World Examples
“Age teaches them that if they don’t change their flaky ways, bad things will happen (e.g., their friends won’t include them in future plans).” Etymology
From flake + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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