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Definition of peckish

peckish

/ˈpɛk.ɪʃ/
peck · ish
Adverb:peckishly
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peckish Lexical Profile

peckish Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

British Slightly hungry; inclined to eat a small snack.

Example

"By mid-afternoon, she was feeling a bit peckish and decided to make some toast."

2

American Easily annoyed, irritable, or ill-tempered.

Example

"The long delay at the train station left several passengers feeling tired and peckish."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

Used predominantly in British, Australian, and New Zealand English in informal contexts to describe mild hunger between meals; it is almost always used predicatively (e.g., "feeling peckish" rather than "a peckish boy").

• Rhymes for peckish

• Nearby Words

pecker
peckerhead
peckerwood
peckish
pecorino
pecos
pectin

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 18th century from the verb "peck" (referring to a bird striking at food in small bites, from Middle English "pekken") combined with the adjective-forming suffix "-ish".

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Peckish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/peckish
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