cagy

US: (kā′jē)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cag•y  (kā′jē), adj., cag•i•er, cag•i•est. 

1. cagey.

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

cag•ey or cag•y/ˈkeɪdʒi/   adj., -i•er, -i•est. 

1. cautious, careful, wary, or shrewd:
   a cagey reply to his question.

cag•i•ly /ˈkeɪdʒəli/  adv.: The candidate replied cagily that he would need to study that question. 
cag•i•ness /ˈkeɪdʒinɪs/  n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cag•ey  (kā′jē), adj., cag•i•er, cag•i•est. 

1. cautious, wary, or shrewd:
   a cagey reply to the probing question.

Also, cagy. 

• cage + -y¹ 1890–95, American.

cag′i•ly, adv. 
cag′i•ness, cag′ey•ness, n. 
Synonyms

careful, prudent, leery, chary.

Antonyms

open, forthright.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cagey, cagy / ˈkeɪdʒɪ/ adjective ( -ier, -iest)

1. not open or frank; cautious; wary

Etymology: 20th Century: of unknown origin

ˈcaginess, ˈcageyness, ˈcagyness noun