naughty
C1Informal, somewhat playful or affectionate when describing children; can be euphemistic or humorous when referring to adult matters.
Definition
Meaning
(of a child or behaviour) disobedient; badly behaved.
Mildly indecent, risqué, or inappropriate; involving sexual reference in a playful or mildly shocking way.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primary meaning relates to mild misbehaviour, especially by children. The secondary, 'risqué' meaning is context-dependent and often signaled by tone. It is not a severe condemnation; it often carries affectionate or humorous overtones.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The 'risqué' meaning is common in both, but more frequently used in this way in BrE, especially in media (e.g., 'naughty weekend'). In AmE, the child-behaviour meaning is slightly more dominant.
Connotations
BrE may use it more broadly for mild, cheeky transgression. AmE may perceive it as slightly old-fashioned or quaint for child behaviour, but perfectly understood.
Frequency
Higher frequency in BrE overall. In AmE, 'mischievous' or 'bad' are common alternatives for children.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
BE + naughtyBE + naughty + to-infinitive (You were naughty to draw on the wall.)FIND + something + naughtyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a naughty bit of fluff (archaic, BrE)”
- “on the naughty step (BrE, parenting)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used in formal business contexts. Might appear jokingly in very informal internal communications.
Academic
Not used in academic writing, except perhaps in literary analysis of character.
Everyday
Common in family/parenting contexts and in playful, informal adult conversation.
Technical
No technical usage.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The toddler was sent to the naughty corner for throwing his food.
- They shared a naughty giggle about the risqué postcard.
American English
- His son has been a little naughty at preschool this week.
- She gave him a naughty wink from across the bar.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children were naughty in class today.
- My dog is being naughty and chewing shoes.
- It was naughty of you to eat all the biscuits before the party.
- She told a naughty joke that made everyone laugh.
- The comedian's humour was delightfully naughty, full of clever innuendo.
- He felt a bit naughty skipping work to go to the cinema.
- The article featured a naughty allusion to the politician's personal life.
- The novel's protagonist leads a naughty, hedonistic lifestyle in 1920s Paris.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a child saying 'NO-TEA!' and spilling it – that's **naughty** behaviour.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORALITY IS CLEANLINESS / BEHAVIOUR IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT (being 'put on the naughty step').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian 'нотный' (related to musical notes).
- It is not as strong as 'негодяй' (scoundrel/villain). Closer to 'непослушный' or 'озорной'.
- The risqué meaning is closer to 'пикантный', 'неприличный (в шутку)'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to describe serious crimes or evil actions (too strong).
- Overusing it in formal writing.
- Non-native speakers sometimes mispronounce as /ˈnʌti/.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'naughty' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's mild. It's used for trivial misbehaviour, especially by children, and often with affection or humour. For serious wrongdoing, use 'bad', 'wicked', or 'disobedient'.
Yes, but the meaning shifts. For adults, it usually refers to playful, mild indecency or risqué behaviour (e.g., a naughty joke, a naughty weekend away), not to disobedience.
'Mischievous' suggests playful, teasing behaviour causing minor trouble, often with charm. 'Naughty' is simpler, more direct, and can imply a clearer breach of rules. 'Naughty' also has the risqué meaning that 'mischievous' lacks.
Yes, it's a fixed, playful phrase often used in advertising (especially for rich desserts) to mean 'indulgent/decadent (naughty) but enjoyable (nice)'. It captures the word's duality of mild transgression and pleasure.
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