# flaky

/ˈfɫeɪki/ (US) · /flˈeɪki/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/flaky
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.