Slangora

dealy

(US, slang) An object, especially a gadget, whose name the speaker currently cannot recall.

/dˈili/Documented since 1990s1990sMillennialhistorical622 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🗺️ Regional & Other
1 definition
Community

Etymology timeline

Born ~1990 · no dated citations yet
1990BornToday, 2026
Millennial / early-internet eraSee decade cohort →

Seen in the wild

Definitions

Global
#1·Apr 27, 2026Global

(US, slang) An object, especially a gadget, whose name the speaker currently cannot recall.

What's that dealy behind the cab with a chain hooked to it?
For parents

Dealy means: An object, especially a gadget, whose name the speaker currently cannot recall.. It is informal slang, fine in casual speech but not suited to formal contexts. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

dealy means: An object, especially a gadget, whose name the speaker currently cannot recall.. Register: very informal, slang. Suitable only for casual conversation, chat and social media. Do not use in business, academic or news writing. Common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; always check the context before producing it yourself.

Heard in the wild
  • “L. ["Women's Art at the World's Columbian Fair & Exposition, Chicago 1893"](http://arcadiasystems.org/academia/cassatt9.html#dealy).”

  • “Dealy** was a [Jesuit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesuit "Jesuit") priest and the eleventh president of St.”

  • “Dealy** (November 12, 1861 – December 16, 1924) was an American [Major League Baseball](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Baseball "Major League Baseball") player.”

Was this helpful?

Comments

For specific readers

Dealy means: An object, especially a gadget, whose name the speaker currently cannot recall.. It is informal slang, fine in casual speech but not suited to formal contexts. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

Used in

Global

Have a better definition?

Add your own interpretation of "dealy".

Add definition

🗺️About Regional & Other slang

Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.

See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.

Tags

Other words near "dealy" (D)

Browse all slang words starting with D.

Related terms

People also read

Semantically related