Standard Lemma guide

lairy

adj · 3 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈlɛəɹi/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɛəɹi

1

adj

Meaning 1

Touchy, aggressive or confrontational, usually while drunk.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK

Examples

  • Don't get lairy with me!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Vulgar and flashy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia

Examples

  • 1983, National Book Council (Australia), Australian Book Review, Issues 48-57, page 29, He was lairy alright, resplendent in a purple blazer and pink trousers.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Socially unacceptable.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Variation of leery, originally Cockney slang.

Thought to be from leery (“knowing, streetwise”).