skinny

skinny — adjective

1. extremely thin, with so little flesh that the bones can be seen and the person o

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

extremely thin, with so little flesh that the bones can be seen and the person or animal does not look healthy.

Example

After his long illness, Eli looked pale and skinny, with his collarbones clearly visible.

be + skinny describing a person's condition

A skinny stray cat with matted fur was hiding underneath the abandoned car.

skinny + noun for an animal

Common collocations
  • painfully skinny
  • too skinny
  • all skin and bone
Synonyms
  • thin

    more neutral; less emotional than 'skinny'

  • slim

    positive connotation; suggests attractive thinness

  • gaunt

    stronger negative tone; suggests thinness from suffering or illness

Antonyms
  • plump

    pleasantly fat or rounded

Grammar Patterns

skinny + noun

be + skinny

Usage Note

Often carries a negative or critical tone when applied to people. 'Slim' and 'slender' are positive alternatives that suggest attractive thinness.

Common Mistakes

After three months of training, she looks skinny and fit.
After three months of training, she looks slim and fit.
'Skinny' suggests unhealthy thinness, not fitness.

2. sewn so that it presses snugly against the wearer's figure, with almost no loose

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

sewn so that it presses snugly against the wearer's figure, with almost no loose fabric, most often describing trousers, jeans, and tops.

Example

David wore black skinny jeans with a leather jacket and boots to the concert.

skinny jeans (most common collocation)

Marta tried on skinny trousers, but they felt too tight around her knees.

Common collocations
  • skinny jeans
  • skinny trousers
  • skinny fit
  • skinny suit
  • skinny sweater
Synonyms
  • tight

    more general; can describe any fitting garment

  • close-fitting

    more formal term used in fashion catalogues

  • slim-fit

    slightly looser than skinny, common for shirts

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

skinny + clothing noun

Usage Note

Common in fashion retail. 'Skinny fit' is a standard term for clothing sizes, while 'skinny' alone usually describes jeans or trousers.

Common Mistakes

She bought a skinny skirt for the party.
She bought a tight skirt for the party.
'Skinny' is not used for all clothing types; stick to jeans, trousers, suits, and sweaters.

3. made with skimmed or low-fat milk instead of whole milk, used especially for cof

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

made with skimmed or low-fat milk instead of whole milk, used especially for coffee-shop drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos.

Example

Hassan always orders a skinny latte when he visits the café near his office.

skinny + latte (most common collocation)

The barista asked whether I wanted regular or skinny milk in my cappuccino.

skinny milk vs regular milk contrast

Common collocations
  • skinny latte
  • skinny cappuccino
  • skinny milk
  • skinny hot chocolate
Synonyms
  • low-fat

    more general; can apply to any food or drink

  • skimmed

    technical term for milk with all cream removed

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

skinny + coffee drink noun

Usage Note

Used almost exclusively for coffee-shop beverages. A 'skinny latte' replaces whole milk with skimmed milk. The term is rarely applied to other food items.

4. much smaller or weaker than what is needed for a particular purpose, leaving the

4.adjectiveB2
Definition

much smaller or weaker than what is needed for a particular purpose, leaving the result unsatisfactory.

Example

The department's skinny budget meant they could only hire one temporary assistant.

skinny + budget (money)

Hari argued the report was too skinny an analysis to convince the investors.

too skinny + abstract noun

Common collocations
  • skinny budget
  • skinny argument
  • skinny plan
  • skinny pay rise
  • skinny return
Synonyms
  • meagre

    more formal; very small in amount

  • insufficient

    neutral and formal; not enough

  • scant

    barely enough; slightly more formal

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

skinny + abstract noun

Usage Note

Typically modifies abstract nouns such as 'budget', 'plan', 'argument', or 'report'. Not used for physical objects in this sense.

skinny — noun

Word family

  • skin
    nounA1
  • skinniness
    nounC1
  • skinny-jeans
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All five words describe someone who is not fat, but they differ in tone and context. 'Thin' (B1) is the most neutral and general — it simply states a lack of extra body fat, without praise or criticism. 'Slim' (B1) and 'slender' (B2) are positive: 'slim' suggests an attractive, fit appearance, while 'slender' adds a touch of elegance, often used for tall, graceful builds. 'Lean' (B2) implies a muscular, low-body-fat physique, common in sports and fitness contexts ('a lean runner'). 'Gaunt' (C1) is strongly negative, describing thinness caused by illness, hunger, or exhaustion, with visible bones and hollow cheeks. For example: 'After the marathon, he looked thin but healthy.' 'The model was tall and slender.' 'The refugees looked gaunt and exhausted.' 'Skinny' (B1) sits between 'thin' and 'gaunt' in tone — less harsh than 'gaunt', but clearly negative compared to 'slim' or 'slender'.

thin ↗slim ↗slenderlean ↗gaunt

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • all skin and bone
  • skin and bones

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'skinny' first appeared in English around the year 1400, formed by adding the suffix '-y' to the noun 'skin'. Originally it meant 'consisting of or resembling skin', as in 'a skinny membrane'. By the late 1500s it was also used to mean 'very thin', based on the idea that a thin person has so little flesh that their skin is all you can see. The informal American English sense 'inside information' dates from the 1960s, possibly from the phrase 'the skin' meaning 'the person himself' in military slang — the real facts about someone. The fashion sense 'tight-fitting' developed in the 1990s with the rise of skinny jeans and skinny-fit clothing.