What does holey mean?
“Holey” is an adjective with two related uses. Its literal meaning is “full of holes”: a garment may be described as holey if it has become thin and perforated through wear, while cheese, fabric, or other objects may be intentionally made with holes. In informal usage, “holey” can also characterize something as poor, inferior, or substandard, especially when referring to the quality of clothing, equipment, or performance. This second sense is more evaluative than the first and is generally unsuitable for formal contexts. The word is useful because it compresses two common ideas into a familiar form: one concerning physical openings and another concerning poor quality. Although it sounds like “holy,” it belongs to a productive family based on the noun “hole,” whose Old English ancestor, hol, referred to a hollow place or cavity.
adjectiveHaving many holes or perforations. Informally, of poor or inferior quality.
- Full of holes or perforations
- Of poor or inferior quality
"She patched the holey socks before putting them on for the hike."
"The old sweater was so holey that she wore it only at home."
"Their defense was holey, leaving several clear chances for the opposing side."
From an everyday noun to a compact all-rounder: “holey” means riddled with holes—or, informally, plainly substandard.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does holey come from?
“Holey” was formed in English by adding the adjective-forming suffix “-y” to “hole.” The noun “hole” descends from Old English hol, an Old West Germanic word associated with a hollow space or cavity. “Hollow” is closely related etymologically, also deriving from Old English hol, and the two English words developed distinct literal and figurative meanings.
How holey is actually used
The literal sense is neutral and can describe clothing, fabric, ground, or objects with many openings. The sense meaning poor or inferior quality is informal and evaluative, making it better suited to casual speech than formal writing.
Easily confused with holey
“Holey” is an adjective describing something that contains holes, whereas “hollow” describes something empty inside, curved inward, or insubstantial.