Word
lanky
US/ˈɫæŋki/
UK/lˈæŋki/
Definition
adj. tall and thin in a way that looks a bit awkward or unsteady. You use this to describe someone who seems to have long legs and arms but not much muscle.
adj. tall and thin in a manner that suggests a lack of coordination or a gangly appearance.
Examples
“The teenager looked lanky in his oversized sweater.”
“He was a lanky young man who spent most of his time playing basketball at the local court.”
“The actor's lanky frame and long limbs made him an ideal choice for the role of a restless, awkward youth navigating a crowded city.”
Examples
simple
“The teenager looked lanky in his oversized sweater.”
contextual
“He was a lanky young man who spent most of his time playing basketball at the local court.”
complex
“The actor's lanky frame and long limbs made him an ideal choice for the role of a restless, awkward youth navigating a crowded city.”
Etymology
From lank + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/lanky