Standard Lemma guide

pally

adj · noun · 6 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.

  • UK: /ˈpali/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -æli

1

adj

Meaning 1

Like a pal; friendly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 2006, Vidar Helgesen, Erik Solheim, The Straight Talkers, Harriet Martin (editor), Kofi Atta Annan (foreword), Kings of Peace, Pawns of War: The Untold Story of Peace-Making, page 112, And with each round the two negotiating teams got more and more pally. ‘By the sixth round we were having Jacuzzis together!’

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An affectionate term of address.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A slightly derogatory and insulting term of address.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia, US

Examples

  • What do you think you are doing, pally?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A paladin.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang

Qualifier: fantasy roleplaying games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A Palestinian.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: colloquial, derogatory, offensive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

adjective satellite

Meaning 6

(used colloquially) having the relationship of friends or pals

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: chummy, matey, palsy-walsy

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From pal + -y (adjectival suffix). Piecewise doublet of friary.

Etymology tree English pal Proto-Germanic *-j-, *-ij- Proto-West Germanic *-i, *-ī Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English pally From pal + -y (diminutive suffix).

Clipping of paladin + -y (diminutive suffix).

Shortened form with diminutive suffix -y.