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BNC: 18617 COCA: 15969
sketchier; sketchiest
1
: of the nature of a sketch : roughly outlined
2
: wanting in completeness, clearness, or substance : slight, superficial
the details are sketchy
3
: questionable, iffy
got into a sketchy situation
a sketchy character
sketchily adverb
sketchiness noun

Did you know?

The Varied Meanings of Sketchy

A sketch is a rough drawing usually done as an initial draft in contrast to a finished work. The word sketch suggests imperfection and a lack of refinement. It comes from the Dutch word schets and ultimately from the Italian verb schizzare, an imitative verb meaning "to splash."

Unsurprisingly, the adjective sketchy originally described something relating to or resembling a sketch, as in "a sketchy portrait." But because sketches are by nature rough and ill-defined, sketchy soon came to mean "wanting in completeness, clearness, or substance," as in "a sketchy understanding" or "sketchy details."

What lacks completeness, clearness, or substance is also subject to doubt or challenge, and sketchy went on to develop uses applying to what is questionable or iffy, either for physically obvious qualities or for something less tangible. In sports we see this sense of sketchy applied to a track or surface that is poorly maintained, as in "a sketchy track," and in broader use it is applied to streets and neighborhoods that can also be described as seedy, as in "a sketchy part of town."

The adjective has more recently extended in use to describe someone who creates an impression of unsavoriness, or something that comes from an untrustworthy source or is itself untrustworthy, as in "a sketchy dude" or "a scheme that sounds sketchy."

Example Sentences

The details about the accident are still a little sketchy. I have only a sketchy idea of how it works.
Recent Examples on the Web The Cardinal were pretty sketchy on ball control however, losing three fumbles and an interception. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 7 Sep. 2022 Shafer recommends permit holders take a hard copy or snap a screenshot of their permit, as internet reception can be sketchy in the park. Julie Jag, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Aug. 2022 The platform's goals are ostensibly lofty, but the details are extremely sketchy, and Shkreli's intentions have already drawn skepticism. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 26 July 2022 Even in the lavish year of 2010, this venture was somewhat sketchy. Simon Akam, Outside Online, 26 Oct. 2017 While figures are sketchy, at least 30,000 Japanese died in and around Guadalcanal. San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2022 My memories are a bit sketchy, but Hillel had met Alain Johannes, who was another high school friend. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2022 Glen Park, which prides itself on its village feel now, was a sketchy neighborhood then. Carl Nolte, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Sep. 2021 But this semi-true story is ultimately too sketchy to have anything effective to say about Houston, mainstream success or being in the closet. Noel Murray, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2022 See More

Word History

First Known Use

1805, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sketchy was in 1805

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