What does goodish mean?
Goodish is an informal adjective meaning fairly good, reasonably good, or better than merely adequate. It occupies a middle ground between unqualified praise and criticism, often indicating that something is perfectly acceptable without claiming that it is excellent. For example, a meal might be described as goodish if it is tasty and satisfying but not outstanding, while a prospect might be goodish if it is promising but uncertain. The word is especially useful when a speaker wants to soften praise, avoid sounding overly enthusiastic, or communicate a mixed judgment. It can therefore sound friendly and understated in casual conversation, though in some contexts it may imply mild disappointment. Goodish is related to good and uses the familiar English suffix -ish, which forms adjectives expressing approximation or a lesser degree of a quality. The result is a concise and characteristically understated way to describe something that is decent without being remarkable.
adjectiveSomewhat or reasonably good, but not especially good.
- Fairly or reasonably good, but not especially good.
"The food was goodish, though nothing about it was memorable."
"There seemed to be a goodish chance that the problem would be fixed before lunch."
"The film was goodish: entertaining enough, but hardly remarkable."
Goodish fills the useful gap between enthusiastic praise and polite understatement.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of goodish
Goodish is an English formation built from the adjective good and the suffix -ish. The suffix has long been used in English to create words denoting a partial, approximate, or lesser degree of a quality. Although goodish is not among the oldest English formations of this type, its meaning follows the established pattern of the productive -ish suffix.
How goodish is actually used
Goodish is informal and conversational. It can sound mildly dismissive, suggesting that something is acceptable but unexceptional; its tone varies from gently understated to somewhat critical depending on context.
Easily confused with goodish
Good means fully good or of high quality, while goodish means only moderately or reasonably good.