naughty

 
Pronunciation: /ˈnɔːti/

adjective (naughtier, naughtiest)

  • 1(especially of a child) badly behaved; disobedient: you’ve been a really naughty boy
  • 2 informal mildly rude or indecent, typically because related to sex: naughty goings-on
  • 3 archaic wicked.

Phrases

the naughty step

British informal
a place where a child is sent after misbehaving in order to reflect on their actions.
a situation of public disgrace: the bosses of the unions found themselves on the naughty step

Derivatives

naughtily

adverb

naughtiness

noun

Origin:

late Middle English: from naught + -y1. The earliest recorded sense was 'possessing nothing'; the sense 'wicked' also dates from late Middle English, and gave rise to the current senses