picky

Picky is an English adjective used to describe a person who is hard to satisfy or overly particular about details, choices, or standards. A picky person tends to scrutinize options and require specific conditions to be met before accepting something, whether it concerns food, clothing, work, or social interactions. Common examples include a picky eater or someone who is picky about how things are organized.

The term carries a mildly negative or critical tone in everyday speech, though it can be neutral or even positive when highlighting high standards or carefulness. Picky is closely related to synonyms such as fussy, choosy, and selective. The expression nitpicky emphasizes fussiness over small or minor issues.

Etymologically, picky derives from the verb pick, in the sense of selecting or choosing, with the suffix -y forming an adjective. It has been in colloquial use since the 19th or early 20th century in American English. Related forms include the noun pickiness and the prepositional phrases picky about something or picky with something.

In social and cultural contexts, being picky can reflect a preference for quality or consistency, which can be advantageous in professional or creative tasks. However, it can also hinder cooperation or flexibility if applied rigidly. People may describe someone as picky to signal admiration for strict standards or criticism of excessive fuss, depending on tone and situation.