Standard Lemma guide

Sparky

adj · name · 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.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɑː(ɹ)ki
  • CMU ARPABET: S P AA1 R K IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Lively and animated.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 1986 July, Texas Monthly, page 103, Anthony's certainly hasn′t achieved the consistent level of Tony′s, but the menu is sparkier, more up to the minute.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Resembling or characteristic of an electrical spark.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

name

Meaning 3

A nickname for a person who is lively and animated.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

name

Meaning 4

A name for a pet, traditionally especially a dog, with similar connotations.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A radio operator.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Navy, US

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

An electrician.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia, New-Zealand, UK

Examples

  • 2010, Meegan Jones, Sustainable Event Management: A Practical Guide, Earthscan, UK and US, page 86, You need to educate yourself so you can talk turkey with the sparkies. You don′t need an electrician′s qualification, but if you can demonstrate a basic understanding of the principles behind supplying power to your event, you can have a decent conversation about options and solutions.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-West Germanic *sparkō Old English spearca Middle English sparke English spark English -y English sparky From spark + -y.

From the adjective sparky (“lively, animated”).

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: anregend — Lifely, animated
  • German: lebhaft — Lifely, animated
  • German: Funker — Radio operator
  • German: Elektriker — Electrician