Inky

Inky is an adjective used to describe something that relates to ink or that has the appearance or quality of ink. It is commonly used to convey a sense of depth or darkness, often referring to very dark colors such as black or blue-black, as in inky handwriting, inky shadows, or an inky night. The term can also describe a liquid or substance that leaves a strong ink-like stain.

Etymology-wise, inky is formed from the noun ink plus the adjectival suffix -y, yielding a straightforward meaning of “like ink.” It has been used in English for descriptive purposes to emphasize richness, intensity, or stain abundance in both color and texture.

In popular culture, Inky is known as the name of one of the four ghosts in the Pac-Man video game series. Inky is typically depicted as cyan, and, as with the other ghosts, his name is a pun-based descriptor aligned with his color.

Beyond literature and entertainment, inky has practical descriptive value in journalism, art criticism, fashion, and design. Writers and designers use inky to evoke imagery of dense pigment, high contrast, and striking visuals. While it remains primarily a descriptive term, its usage can suggest mood—often noir, mysterious, or dramatic—owing to the associations with ink and its historical uses.