Lacey or Lacy – Which Spelling Is Correct?

The words “lacy” and “lacey” often cause confusion, and people are unsure which version of the spelling is correct or whether they have different meanings. This article describes the differences in-depth and highlights how to use “lacy” and “lacey.”

Lacey or Lacy – Which Spelling Is Correct?

The standard spelling is “lacy”, which is an adjective used when referring to something “made of or containing lace” or something “fragile” that looks like lace. “Lacey” is found in some dictionaries as the UK version of “lacy” or as a proper noun in the form of a name.

For the adjective meaning “made of lace” or “fragile and lacy” in appearance, “lacy” is the version of the spelling that is found in all major English dictionaries.

So, if you are referring to something that is made of lace or has the texture or appearance that it is made of lace, the more standard version of the word is “lacy.”

The word “lacey”does not appear in the Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries as a UK spelling of “lacy.” However, there are entries in the Collins Dictionary  and Merriam-Webster that state that it is, in fact, the UK version of “lacy”,

The Oxford Dictionary states that “Lacey” is a girl’s name and, therefore, a proper noun. Furthermore, other sources indicate that “Lacey” has also been used as a surname in the UK since the 11^th century.

Lacey

The word “lacey” is not found in the Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries as being the UK version of “lacy.” However, the Oxford dictionary does contain the word, but it is listed as a female name.

The Collins Dictionary and Merriam-Webster do contain listings for “lacey” as the UK version of “lacy”. Still, the fact that it is not found in other major dictionaries shows it is uncommon.

Therefore, if in doubt, the more common and accepted version of the word to describe something made of or resembling lace would be “lacy.” However, the fact that it can be found in some dictionaries and was used more prevalently at one point means that it is technically acceptable to use both “lacy” and “lacey.”

Here are some examples to show the word in context:

1. The shorts had a lacey waistband that irritated my skin.
2. The dress I bought for the wedding was lacey and silky. It was beautiful!
3. Our new wallpaper has a lacey green pattern on top of a white background.
4. I want a lacey blouse that will be cool on hot summer evenings.
5. Tablecloths with lacey edges are very impractical for cleaning the kitchen.

Lacy

“Lacy” is used to describe something “made of lace” or “resembling lace”, according to the Longman and Cambridge dictionaries.

People are often unsure which version of the spelling is correct, “lacy” or “lacey” they are both, in fact, right, but “lacy” is by far the more standard version of the spelling and is found in all dictionaries.

Below are some examples that show how to use the word “lacy” in a sentence:

1. The primary issue with lacy straps on clothes is that they scrape and chafe my skin.
2. I bought my wife a lacy black nightgown for her birthday.
3. The snow created a beautiful lacy pattern on the kitchen window.
4. The walls in our house have a lacy effect on the plaster.
5. Spider’s webs are extraordinarily intricate and lacy in their design.

Which Word Is Used the Most?

The Google Ngram Viewer for the UK shows us that in terms of frequency, the “lacy” and “lacey” have always been pretty even in terms of prevalence, although currently, the spelling “lacey” is more common in the UK.

However, the fact that the Google Ngram Viewer for the US shows a similar trend indicates that its popularity as a first and last name also contributes to its frequency. To highlight this, In the UK and US alone, there are over 35,000 occurrences of the surname “Lacey.”

The overall Google Ngram highlights that “lacey” is slightly more common than “lacy”.

Still, this is more than likely because it is a relatively common name in English-speaking countries. In addition, most examples found in modern texts indicate that “lacy” is the preferred spelling when referring to something made of lace.

Final Thoughts

“Lacy” and “lacey” are both technically correct because they both appear in dictionaries and mean “something made of” or “decorated with lace.” The spelling “lacy” is more common when using the word in this context. However, the use of “Lacey” as a name probably contributes to its current prevalence.