Word
skinny
Phoneticsskin·ny, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈskɪni/
UK/skˈɪni/
Definitions
01very thin
A2 · Elementary Informal
adj. very thin, often in a way that looks unhealthy or unattractive.
adj. excessively thin or emaciated in appearance; often carries a slightly negative or critical connotation compared to 'slim'.
“He was so skinny that his clothes looked much too big for him.”
“The stray dog looked dangerously skinny, with its ribs clearly visible through its matted fur.”
Teaching tip
Remind students that 'skinny' can be an insult. 'Slim' or 'slender' are better words if they want to give a compliment.
02tight-fitting
B1 · Intermediate
adj. fitting very closely to the body.
adj. designed to fit the body very tightly, particularly used in the context of denim or trousers.
“She bought a new pair of skinny jeans for the party.”
“The current fashion trend has shifted away from skinny silhouettes toward more relaxed, wide-leg cuts.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun.
Synonyms
03low-fat
B1 · Intermediate Cooking Informal
adj. made with low-fat milk or having fewer calories.
adj. referring to food or drink, especially coffee, prepared with skimmed milk or reduced fat content.
“I'll have a skinny latte with no sugar, please.”
“The café offers a variety of skinny options for health-conscious customers who want to enjoy a dessert without the extra calories.”
Antonyms
04the inside information
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Informal · American English
n. the real facts or secret information about something.
n. the underlying facts, details, or 'inside' information regarding a specific situation, often obtained through gossip.
“Give me the skinny on the new boss — is she nice?”
“Before the merger was officially announced, the employees were already trying to get the skinny on potential job cuts.”
Usage
Almost always used with the definite article as 'the skinny'.
Teaching tip
This is a very common idiom in American English but is rarely used in formal writing.
Real-World Examples
“Joey didn’t like the photo – he said, “You made my legs look thin.” Like it was my fault he had skinny legs.” “Cops described the suspect as a brown male, about 5-foot-4, and of skinny build.” Etymology
From Middle English skinny (“resembling skin”), equivalent to skin + -y. The meaning associated with lack of fat or muscle possibly derives from the phrase skin and bones; the meaning associated with nudity refers to the exposed skin.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
01. skinny Liz
02. skinny Minnie
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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