"hacky" meaning in English

See hacky in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adjective

Audio: en-uk-hacky.ogg [UK] Forms: hackier [comparative], hackiest [superlative]
Rhymes: -æki Etymology: Etymology tree English hack Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English hacky From hack + -y. Etymology templates: {{ety|en|:af|hack|-y<id:adjectival>|text=+|tree=1}} Etymology tree English hack Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English hacky [Appendix:Glossary#inherited|Inherited]] from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Germanic", "term" : "*-gaz", "lang" : "gem-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-West Germanic", "term" : "*-g", "lang" : "gmw-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Old English", "term" : "-iġ", "lang" : "ang" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Middle English", "term" : "-y", "lang" : "enm" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "-y", "lang" : "en" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "affix" } ], "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "hacky", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "en" }" data-lang="en" data-title="hacky"> From hack + -y. Head templates: {{en-adj|er}} hacky (comparative hackier, superlative hackiest)
  1. Like a hack; amateurish.
    Sense id: en-hacky-en-adj-UlLtRyhM
  2. (Geordie) Filthy or totally dirty. Tags: Geordie
    Sense id: en-hacky-en-adj-eY3~TTGl Categories (other): Geordie, English terms suffixed with -y (adjectival) Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -y (adjectival): 6 15 35 43
  3. (computing, informal) Using, or characterised by, hacks: poorly designed workarounds. Tags: informal
    Sense id: en-hacky-en-adj--4n59IOk Categories (other): Computing, English terms suffixed with -y (adjectival), Pages using etymon with no ID Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -y (adjectival): 6 15 35 43 Disambiguation of Pages using etymon with no ID: 11 6 51 32 Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences
  4. (colloquial) Short and interrupted, broken, jerky; hacking. Tags: colloquial
    Sense id: en-hacky-en-adj-6Cw9hoC2 Categories (other): English terms with collocations, English entries referencing missing etymons, English entries with etymology texts, English entries with etymology trees, English entries with incorrect language header, English terms suffixed with -y (adjectival), Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Pages with etymology trees Disambiguation of English entries referencing missing etymons: 12 8 31 49 Disambiguation of English entries with etymology texts: 11 8 32 49 Disambiguation of English entries with etymology trees: 11 8 32 49 Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 14 3 30 47 6 Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -y (adjectival): 6 15 35 43 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 9 5 21 60 5 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 18 4 20 54 4 Disambiguation of Pages with etymology trees: 14 10 25 51
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Synonyms: hackish Derived forms: hackily, hackiness, hacky sack Related terms: dirty [English, Standard], dorty [Geordie], hacky dorty [Geordie], unclean [English, Standard]
Etymology number: 1

Adjective

Audio: en-uk-hacky.ogg [UK] Forms: more hacky [comparative], most hacky [superlative]
Rhymes: -æki Etymology: Alteration of hackneyed. Head templates: {{en-adj}} hacky (comparative more hacky, superlative most hacky)
  1. (comedy, informal) Hackneyed (lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite) Tags: informal
    Sense id: en-hacky-en-adj-vb5UtWHZ Categories (other): Comedy Topics: comedy, entertainment, lifestyle
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 2

Inflected forms

{
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "hackily"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "hackiness"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "hacky sack"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": "1",
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "hack",
        "4": "-y<id:adjectival>",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nEnglish hack\nProto-Indo-European *-kos\nProto-Germanic *-gaz\nProto-West Germanic *-g\nOld English -iġ\nMiddle English -y\nEnglish -y\nEnglish hacky\n[Appendix:Glossary#inherited|Inherited]] from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-gaz\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-g\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"-iġ\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"-y\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"-y\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"hacky\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"hacky\">\nFrom hack + -y.",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nEnglish hack\nProto-Indo-European *-kos\nProto-Germanic *-gaz\nProto-West Germanic *-g\nOld English -iġ\nMiddle English -y\nEnglish -y\nEnglish hacky\nFrom hack + -y.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "hackier",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "hackiest",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "er"
      },
      "expansion": "hacky (comparative hackier, superlative hackiest)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "related": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "tags": [
        "English",
        "Standard"
      ],
      "word": "dirty"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "tags": [
        "Geordie"
      ],
      "word": "dorty"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "tags": [
        "Geordie"
      ],
      "word": "hacky dorty"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "tags": [
        "English",
        "Standard"
      ],
      "word": "unclean"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Like a hack; amateurish."
      ],
      "id": "en-hacky-en-adj-UlLtRyhM",
      "links": [
        [
          "hack",
          "hack"
        ],
        [
          "amateurish",
          "amateurish"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Geordie",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "6 15 35 43",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms suffixed with -y (adjectival)",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Filthy or totally dirty."
      ],
      "id": "en-hacky-en-adj-eY3~TTGl",
      "links": [
        [
          "Filthy",
          "filthy"
        ],
        [
          "dirty",
          "dirty"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(Geordie) Filthy or totally dirty."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Geordie"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Computing",
          "orig": "en:Computing",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "6 15 35 43",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms suffixed with -y (adjectival)",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "11 6 51 32",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages using etymon with no ID",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Using, or characterised by, hacks: poorly designed workarounds."
      ],
      "id": "en-hacky-en-adj--4n59IOk",
      "links": [
        [
          "computing",
          "computing#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "hack",
          "hack"
        ],
        [
          "workaround",
          "workaround"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(computing, informal) Using, or characterised by, hacks: poorly designed workarounds."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "informal"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "computing",
        "engineering",
        "mathematics",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences",
        "sciences"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms with collocations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 8 31 49",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries referencing missing etymons",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "11 8 32 49",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology texts",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "11 8 32 49",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology trees",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "14 3 30 47 6",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "6 15 35 43",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms suffixed with -y (adjectival)",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "9 5 21 60 5",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "18 4 20 54 4",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "14 10 25 51",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with etymology trees",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              2,
              7
            ],
            [
              17,
              22
            ],
            [
              32,
              37
            ],
            [
              48,
              53
            ]
          ],
          "tags": [
            "collocation"
          ],
          "text": "A hacky cough. A hacky laugh. A hacky breath. A hacky howl.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Short and interrupted, broken, jerky; hacking."
      ],
      "id": "en-hacky-en-adj-6Cw9hoC2",
      "links": [
        [
          "hacking",
          "hacking"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(colloquial) Short and interrupted, broken, jerky; hacking."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "colloquial"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "rhymes": "-æki"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-uk-hacky.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/8/8b/En-uk-hacky.ogg/En-uk-hacky.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/En-uk-hacky.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "hackish"
    }
  ],
  "word": "hacky"
}

{
  "etymology_number": "2",
  "etymology_text": "Alteration of hackneyed.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "more hacky",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "most hacky",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "hacky (comparative more hacky, superlative most hacky)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Comedy",
          "orig": "en:Comedy",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Hackneyed (lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite)"
      ],
      "id": "en-hacky-en-adj-vb5UtWHZ",
      "links": [
        [
          "comedy",
          "comedy"
        ],
        [
          "Hackneyed",
          "hackneyed"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(comedy, informal) Hackneyed (lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite)"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "informal"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "comedy",
        "entertainment",
        "lifestyle"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "rhymes": "-æki"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-uk-hacky.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/8/8b/En-uk-hacky.ogg/En-uk-hacky.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/En-uk-hacky.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "hacky"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English adjectives",
    "English entries referencing missing etymons",
    "English entries with etymology texts",
    "English entries with etymology trees",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English terms suffixed with -y (adjectival)",
    "Pages using etymon with no ID",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Pages with etymology trees",
    "Rhymes:English/æki",
    "Rhymes:English/æki/2 syllables"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "hackily"
    },
    {
      "word": "hackiness"
    },
    {
      "word": "hacky sack"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": "1",
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "hack",
        "4": "-y<id:adjectival>",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nEnglish hack\nProto-Indo-European *-kos\nProto-Germanic *-gaz\nProto-West Germanic *-g\nOld English -iġ\nMiddle English -y\nEnglish -y\nEnglish hacky\n[Appendix:Glossary#inherited|Inherited]] from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-gaz\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*-g\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"-iġ\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"-y\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"-y\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"hacky\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"hacky\">\nFrom hack + -y.",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nEnglish hack\nProto-Indo-European *-kos\nProto-Germanic *-gaz\nProto-West Germanic *-g\nOld English -iġ\nMiddle English -y\nEnglish -y\nEnglish hacky\nFrom hack + -y.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "hackier",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "hackiest",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "er"
      },
      "expansion": "hacky (comparative hackier, superlative hackiest)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "related": [
    {
      "tags": [
        "English",
        "Standard"
      ],
      "word": "dirty"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Geordie"
      ],
      "word": "dorty"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Geordie"
      ],
      "word": "hacky dorty"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "English",
        "Standard"
      ],
      "word": "unclean"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Like a hack; amateurish."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "hack",
          "hack"
        ],
        [
          "amateurish",
          "amateurish"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Geordie"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Filthy or totally dirty."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Filthy",
          "filthy"
        ],
        [
          "dirty",
          "dirty"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(Geordie) Filthy or totally dirty."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Geordie"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English informal terms",
        "en:Computing"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Using, or characterised by, hacks: poorly designed workarounds."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "computing",
          "computing#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "hack",
          "hack"
        ],
        [
          "workaround",
          "workaround"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(computing, informal) Using, or characterised by, hacks: poorly designed workarounds."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "informal"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "computing",
        "engineering",
        "mathematics",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences",
        "sciences"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English colloquialisms",
        "English terms with collocations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              2,
              7
            ],
            [
              17,
              22
            ],
            [
              32,
              37
            ],
            [
              48,
              53
            ]
          ],
          "tags": [
            "collocation"
          ],
          "text": "A hacky cough. A hacky laugh. A hacky breath. A hacky howl.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Short and interrupted, broken, jerky; hacking."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "hacking",
          "hacking"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(colloquial) Short and interrupted, broken, jerky; hacking."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "colloquial"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "rhymes": "-æki"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-uk-hacky.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/8/8b/En-uk-hacky.ogg/En-uk-hacky.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/En-uk-hacky.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "word": "hackish"
    }
  ],
  "word": "hacky"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English adjectives",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Rhymes:English/æki",
    "Rhymes:English/æki/2 syllables"
  ],
  "etymology_number": "2",
  "etymology_text": "Alteration of hackneyed.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "more hacky",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "most hacky",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "hacky (comparative more hacky, superlative most hacky)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English informal terms",
        "en:Comedy"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Hackneyed (lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "comedy",
          "comedy"
        ],
        [
          "Hackneyed",
          "hackneyed"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(comedy, informal) Hackneyed (lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite)"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "informal"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "comedy",
        "entertainment",
        "lifestyle"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "rhymes": "-æki"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-uk-hacky.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/8/8b/En-uk-hacky.ogg/En-uk-hacky.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/En-uk-hacky.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "hacky"
}

Download raw JSONL data for hacky meaning in English (5.4kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-06-21 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-06-01 using wiktextract (ade7ec3 and 7f4db16). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.