Standard Lemma guide

gingery

adj · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: JH IH1 N JH ER0 IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Somewhat reddish or reddish-brown in colour (especially of hair or skin colouring).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • gingery hair / freckles; the gingery fur of a fox

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Having reddish-brown hair. (of a person)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Having a flavour or aroma of the spice ginger; containing that spice.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • a gingery broth / stir-fry

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adj

Meaning 4

Energetic, vigorous, lively, peppy, zippy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated

Examples

  • 1912, P. R. Bennett, “Patience on a Throne” in Ducdame: A Book of Verses, London: Elliot Stock, p. 44, The man who reads his history of any clime or age Finds characters of potentates disfiguring each page, So touchy and so gingery That every little injury Will send them flying off into a rage.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adj

Meaning 5

Ginger, inhibited, cautious.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, dated

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

adjective satellite

Meaning 6

(used especially of hair or fur) having a bright orange-brown color

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a man with gingery hair and bright blue eyes
  • a ginger kitten

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ginger

Antonyms: none provided

7

adjective satellite

Meaning 7

having a taste like that of ginger

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Old Tamil 𑀇𑀜𑁆𑀘𑀺 (iñci) Proto-Dravidian *wēr Old Tamil 𑀯𑁂𑀭𑁆 (vēr) Old Tamil 𑀇𑀜𑁆𑀘𑀺𑀯𑁂𑀭𑁆 (iñcivēr)bor. Sauraseni Prakrit 𑀲𑀺𑀁𑀕𑀺𑀯𑁂𑀭 (siṃgivera)der. Ancient Greek ζιγγίβερις (zingíberis)bor. Latin zingiberi Late Latin gingiberbor. Proto-West Germanic *gingiberō Old English gingifer ▲ Old French gingembreinflu. Middle English gingivere Middle English gingere English ginger Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English gingery From ginger + -y.