Tending to talk back rudely or impudently, especially to someone in authority; mouthy or disrespectful.
From 'lip,' referring to the mouth and speech, combined with the suffix '-y' to create an adjective; 'giving lip' meant talking back since at least the 1800s.
The word 'lippy' reveals how different cultures see rudeness differently—in British English it means talking back, but in Australian and New Zealand slang it means something completely different (wearing showy lipstick), showing how the same word can split into opposite meanings.
Gendered insult: 'lippy' applied disproportionately to women and girls as punishment for assertiveness, back-talk, or refusal to be silent. Implies women's speech itself is transgressive.
Use 'outspoken' or 'talkative' neutrally; reserve 'lippy' for informal contexts where tone is clearly not shaming someone for speaking up.
["outspoken","assertive","talkative"]
Women's 'lippiness' has been reframed as courage and authenticity; the word's gendered shame should not silence women's voices.
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