cornier; corniest
1
: mawkishly old-fashioned : tiresomely simple and sentimental
told corny jokes
corny greeting cards
2
: of or relating to corn
3
archaic : tasting strongly of malt
cornily adverb
corniness noun

corny

2 of 2

adjective (2)

cornier; corniest
: relating to or having corns on the feet

Examples of corny in a Sentence

Adjective (1) corny violin music during the movie's love scenes the audience groaned as the emcee told one corny joke after another
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
He’s beloved in the math and science wing, a big guy with a grin and graying hair who peppers lessons on polynomial functions with corny jokes. Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025 The script is delightfully corny in just the right spots. Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2025 Simpson and Mazzoli were something of an odd couple: Simpson, a Republican, was tall and slender, gregarious, and even a little corny, whereas Mazzoli, a Democrat, was short and compact, quieter and reserved. David Hiller, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025 Steves, with his impeccable recommendations, sensible budgeting options, and gently corny prose style, has served as the benevolent fairy godfather on more than one trip for me. Constance Grady, Vox, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for corny

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

Middle English, from corn corn entry 1 + -y -y entry 1

Adjective (2)

corn entry 3 + -y entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Adjective (2)

1689, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of corny was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Corny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corny. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

corny

adjective
ˈkȯr-nē
cornier; corniest
: tastelessly old-fashioned : tiresomely simple or sentimental
corny music
corny jokes

Medical Definition

corny

adjective
cornier; corniest
: relating to or having corns on the feet
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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