Definitions
01physically attractive
B1 · Intermediate Informal
adj. physically attractive in a way that creates sexual interest.
adj. possessing sexual appeal or being physically attractive in a provocative manner.
“She wore a sexy red dress to the party and everyone noticed her.”
“The marketing campaign relied heavily on sexy imagery to sell the new fragrance, targeting a younger, fashion-conscious demographic.”
Teaching tip
While common in casual conversation, this can be inappropriate or unprofessional in formal or workplace settings.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02exciting or trendy
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
adj. exciting, interesting, or fashionable — often used for projects or ideas.
adj. intriguing, appealing, or likely to excite public or professional interest; often used in business to describe high-profile projects.
“Working on a new app is a sexy project for a young programmer.”
“The CEO admitted that while data entry wasn't a sexy task, it was the foundation of their entire strategy.”
Teaching tip
In a business context, this describes something that is 'cool' or high-profile rather than something related to physical attraction.
03prime numbers
C2 · Proficiency Mathematics Technical
adj. describes two prime numbers that have a difference of six.
adj. denoting a pair of prime numbers that differ from each other by six (e.g., 5 and 11).
“The numbers 7 and 13 are sexy primes because the difference is six.”
“In number theory, sexy primes are studied alongside twin primes, though they occur with different mathematical frequencies.”
Usage
This is a non-gradable adjective in this specific mathematical sense.
Teaching tip
This is a very niche mathematical pun (from the Latin 'sex' for six) and is rarely encountered outside of number theory.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “sexy” in context.
Verb
01. feel sexy
“Wearing a well-tailored suit always makes him feel sexy and confident.”
verb + adj
02. find the idea sexy
“Investors didn't find the idea of a new waste management system very sexy.”
verb + noun + adj
03. look sexy in the dress
“She looked incredibly sexy in the red silk dress she wore to the gala.”
verb + adj + prep + noun
Adjective
04. sexy lingerie
“The boutique specializes in high-end sexy lingerie and sleepwear.”
adj + noun
05. undeniably sexy
“The new sports car has an undeniably sexy design that attracts everyone's attention.”
adv + adj
Noun
06. sexy image
“The pop star worked hard to maintain a sexy image throughout her career.”
adj + noun
07. sexy voice
“He has a deep, sexy voice that is perfect for late-night radio.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“He’s also a very sexy character; he loves women, women know it, and they love him.” “She’s sexy, she’s fun, she’s 60.’ I need to meet someone now .” “A good espresso coffee is sexy as hell.” Etymology
From sex + -y.
From Latin sex (“six”) + -y, intended as a pun.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
Domain
- 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
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/sexy
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0