juicy

Juicy is an English adjective that primarily describes something containing or releasing a notable amount of juice. In culinary contexts, it is used of fruits and vegetables, meat, and other foods that are moist, tender, and flavorful due to their natural liquids. Juiciness is often a positive quality in cooking, signaling freshness and quality, and has influenced culinary labels and marketing (for example, “juicy peaches” or “juicy steak”).

Beyond food, juicy is used metaphorically to describe information or content that is especially interesting, provocative, or sensational. Phrases such as “juicy gossip” or “juicy details” are common in media and everyday speech. The figurative use implies that the content has enough substance to be worth paying attention to, often with implications or ramifications.

The word is formed from the noun juice, with the -y suffix that creates adjectives describing a quality or state. The sense of “full of juice” appears in early modern English, with the broader figurative sense developing later as speakers extended the idea of lively, satisfying content to non-edible contexts.

In literature and advertising, the term can carry connotations of desirability or excess and may vary in tone from neutral to playful or colloquial. It is generally not used for inanimate things that are dry or lacking moisture.