What does skinnier mean?
Skinnier is the comparative form of skinny and means thinner, leaner, or less full-bodied than something else. It is commonly used to compare people, animals, foods, objects, and portions: a skinnier cut of meat, a skinnier model, or someone who looks skinnier after losing weight. The word can be factual, but it may also carry an evaluative implication when describing someone as excessively thin or underweight. In clothing, “skinny jeans” denotes close-fitting jeans with narrow legs. Although “thinner” is often the more neutral or precise choice, “skinnier” is idiomatic and can emphasize a greater degree of thinness. It is also used figuratively for things that are smaller in width or more streamlined in form.
adjectiveComparative of skinny: thinner, leaner, or having less flesh or fullness.
- Thinner or leaner than another person or thing.
"He looked skinnier after several weeks of illness."
"She chose the skinnier of the two fillets."
"The skinnier model was both lighter and easier to carry."
Sometimes the clearest description is a comparison: one body, one object, or one portion can be skinnier than another.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does skinnier come from?
Skinny was formed in English from skin with the suffix -y, originally suggesting a body reduced to little more than skin and bone. The adjective dates from the late 16th century. Its modern comparative, skinnier, follows the same historical root as skin and related formations such as skinning and skinless.
Related word forms
How skinnier is actually used
As a comparative, it normally modifies another person or thing. In most contexts, “thinner” sounds more natural than “more skinnier.”
Easily confused with skinnier
Skinny is the comparative of skinny, while slender is an adjective meaning gracefully or noticeably thin.