1880-85, Americanism; apparently identical with earlier tack(e)y small horse, pony, poor farmer; of obscure origin
Related forms
tackiness, noun
Examples from the web for tacky
The game itself looks cheap and tacky at best, though.
It was somewhat sweet smelling when burned and it does get a little tacky when in contact with alcohol.
The souvenirs might be a bit on the tacky side, but you'll discover plenty of intriguing items in these lively markets.
Complaining is tacky and pointless, especially by people who are supposedly smart enough to know better.
And today she's mostly famous for being famous, for having an incredibly hot husband and a relatively tacky wedding.
Along the way, the concept has gone from futuristic novelty to often-tacky tourist traps.
Sometimes the designs are tacky or derivative of modern art styles.
Here's a case where tacky novelty can actually result in something that keeps you safe and also makes you look cool.
The tacky, velvet-curtained room had been transformed into a combination stadium and stage.
It's tacky, and one is better served by decoding the dazzle that has you reaching for your purse.
British Dictionary definitions for tacky
tacky1
/ˈtækɪ/
adjective tackier, tackiest
1.
slightly sticky or adhesive: the varnish was still tacky
Derived Forms
tackily, adverb tackiness, noun
Word Origin
C18: from tack1 (in the sense: stickiness)
tacky2
/ˈtækɪ/
adjective (informal) tackier, tackiest
1.
shabby or shoddy
2.
ostentatious and vulgar
3.
(US) (of a person) dowdy; seedy
Derived Forms
tackiness, noun
Word Origin
C19: from dialect tacky an inferior horse, of unknown origin
Word Origin and History for tacky
adj.
"sticky," 1788, from tack (n.1) in the sense of "an act of attaching temporarily" + -y (2).
"in poor taste," 1862, adj. use of tackey (n.) "small or inferior horse" (1800), later "hillbilly, cracker" (1888), of uncertain origin.
Slang definitions & phrases for tacky
tacky
adjective
Inferior; shabby; vulgar; icky, ratty: She talked in a manner that would be considered a bit countrified, if not slightly tacky/ The girl's hunger for validation, however tacky