thackeray: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Very Low
UK/ˈθækəri/US/ˈθækəri/

Formal / Literary

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “thackeray” mean?

Proper noun referring primarily to the Victorian novelist William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863).

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

Proper noun referring primarily to the Victorian novelist William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863).

May refer to a surname of English origin, or places/institutions named after the novelist (e.g., Thackeray Street).

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Equally low-frequency in both dialects. Slightly higher recognition in UK due to author's prominence in British literary history.

Connotations

Primarily literary and historical. In the UK, may carry stronger associations with 19th-century literature and satire.

Frequency

Exceedingly rare in everyday conversation; appears mainly in literary, academic, or historical contexts.

Grammar

How to Use “thackeray” in a Sentence

[Proper Noun][Surname]

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
William Makepeace Thackeraynovelist Thackerayauthor Thackeray
medium
the works of Thackeraya biography of ThackerayThackeray's Vanity Fair
weak
Thackeray StreetThackeray Societysaid Thackeray

Examples

Examples of “thackeray” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

  • a Thackeray manuscript
  • Thackeray-esque satire

American English

  • a Thackeray first edition
  • a Thackeray novel

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Virtually never used.

Academic

Used in literary studies, Victorian history, and English literature courses.

Everyday

Extremely rare, except in specific discussions about classic literature.

Technical

Not applicable.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “thackeray”

Strong

the satiristthe Victorian writer

Neutral

the authorthe novelist

Weak

the manthe writer

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “thackeray”

N/A (Proper noun)

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “thackeray”

  • Using it as a verb or adjective (e.g., 'to thackeray', 'a thackeray novel').
  • Misspelling (Thackery, Thakeray).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is almost exclusively a proper noun (a surname).

He is famous for his satirical novel 'Vanity Fair', published in 1848.

It is pronounced /ˈθækəri/ (THACK-uh-ree) in both British and American English.

Only attributively to describe something related to him (e.g., 'Thackeray's works'), not as a predicative adjective.

Proper noun referring primarily to the Victorian novelist William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863).

Thackeray is usually formal / literary in register.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • N/A

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: "THACK" (like an axe hitting wood) + "ERAY" (sounds like 'array') = THACKERAY, the author of a vast array of Victorian characters.

Conceptual Metaphor

N/A (Proper noun).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
is best known for his novel 'Vanity Fair'.
Multiple Choice

What is 'Thackeray' primarily?