What does gimpy mean?
Gimpy is an informal adjective meaning lame or physically impaired, and by extension weak, ineffective, or unreliable. It can describe a person’s leg or knee, but it is also commonly applied to machinery, vehicles, equipment, or systems that work poorly: a gimpy engine may stall repeatedly, while gimpy brakes may respond weakly. The word carries a mildly negative or dismissive tone rather than a highly formal one. In descriptions of people, it can be insensitive, especially because it may reduce a person’s condition to a shorthand judgment. Used for objects, however, it is an economical way to suggest poor functioning or dependability. Gimpy is related in meaning to terms such as lame, impaired, weak, and unreliable, but its particular usage is especially familiar in British and American informal speech.
adjectiveLame or impaired in movement; weak, ineffective, or unreliable. The word is informal and is often used for machinery, vehicles, or other things that function poorly.
- Lame or physically impaired, especially in walking or movement.
- Weak, ineffective, or unreliable, especially of machinery, vehicles, or equipment.
"The old lawnmower was so gimpy that it stalled every time he tried to cut the grass."
"After the injury, his leg was gimpy and he walked with a cane."
"The engine becomes gimpy in cold weather and often fails to start."
A sore knee and a broken-down engine can both be called gimpy: the common thread is reduced function.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gimpy come from?
The word appears in English by the late nineteenth century. Its exact origin is uncertain, and standard dictionaries do not offer a single settled derivation. It was used for a person or limb that was lame and came to be extended to weak, ineffective, or unreliable things.
Related word forms
How gimpy is actually used
Gimpy is informal and sometimes viewed as dated. When applied to a person, it may sound insensitive, so a more precise medical or neutral description is usually preferable. Its use for poorly functioning equipment is generally the least problematic.
Easily confused with gimpy
Gimpy is normally an adjective describing something lame, weak, or unreliable, whereas gimp is a noun and can refer to a tool, a person perceived as physically impaired, or other meanings depending on context.