WordGarden.iopotty
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /pˈɒti/
US
- /ˈpɑti/
Meanings
Noun
a toilet, especially a small one used by a young child
Adjective
foolish, silly, or not sensible
very enthusiastic about something
Beyond the definition
"Potty" is most often the small toilet used when young children are learning to use the toilet on their own. It is also a child-friendly way to say "the bathroom" or "toilet." Adults often use it with kids because it sounds simple and gentle.
You might hear a parent ask, "Do you need to use the potty?" or see a child feel proud after using it successfully. In British English, "potty" can also be an informal adjective meaning silly, a little crazy, or strongly obsessed with something, as in "She's potty about dogs."
The word "potty" is most commonly used for a small toilet made for young children who are learning to stop using diapers. For many people, this is the main meaning: a simple training toilet that helps a child learn an important daily skill. You might hear, "She was so proud when she used the potty all by herself."
"Potty" is also often used as a gentle, informal word for the toilet or bathroom when adults are speaking to children. A parent might say, "Time to go to the potty," because it sounds softer and easier for a child to understand than more formal words.
Historically, the word comes from "pot," especially the old "chamber pot" that people once kept in bedrooms before indoor plumbing was common. Over time, "potty" stayed in the language and became strongly linked with toilet training and child-directed speech.
The word also has another use in British English. As an adjective, it can mean foolish, slightly crazy, or very enthusiastic about something. Someone might say, "He's gone absolutely potty," or "She's potty about gardening."
So the word moves between everyday family life and informal British speech. In one setting, it is about children and toilet training; in another, it describes silly behavior or strong enthusiasm.
Examples
- 1
Child toilet
The toddler sat on the potty before bath time.
- 2
Young children
Do you need to go potty before we leave?
- Usagego potty
use the toilet; often said to young children
- 3
Toilet training
We started potty training a little before his second birthday.
- 4
Child development
By three, she was fully potty-trained.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Pets
The puppy went potty on the kitchen floor.
- Usagego potty
use the toilet; also used for pets
- 6
Informal annoyance
That dripping sound is driving me potty.
- Usagedrive someone potty
make someone very annoyed or unable to think clearly; informal British English
- 7
Informal enthusiasm
He's potty about old cars and spends every weekend fixing them.
- Usagebe potty about + interest
like it very much; informal British English
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- pottynounadjective
Forms
- pottiespluralnounadjective
- pottiercomparativeadjectivenoun
- pottiestsuperlativeadjectivenoun