Gaudy vs. Tacky — What's the Difference?

Gaudy or gaudie (from the Latin, "gaudium", meaning "enjoyment" or "merry-making") is a term used to reflect student life in a number of the ancient universities in the United Kingdom as well as other institutions such as Durham University and Reading University. It is generally believed to relate to the traditional student song, "De Brevitate Vitae" (On the Shortness of Life), which is commonly known as the Gaudeamus (Let's make merry) by virtue of its first word.

Slightly adhesive or gummy to the touch; sticky.

Extravagantly bright or showy, typically so as to be tasteless

Lacking style or good taste; tawdry

A celebratory dinner or entertainment held by a college for old members

Distasteful or offensive; tasteless

Showy in a tasteless or vulgar way.

Flimsy, rundown, or in poor repair

A feast, especially an annual university dinner.

Of a substance, slightly sticky.

Very showy or ornamented, now especially when excessive, or in a tasteless or vulgar manner.

(colloquial) Of low quality.

(obsolete) fun; merry; festive.

(colloquial) In poor taste.

(archaic) One of the large beads in the rosary at which the paternoster is recited.

Gaudy or flashy.

(Oxon) A reunion held by one of the colleges of the University of Oxford for alumni, normally held during the long vacation.

Shabby, dowdy in one's appearance or dress.

Ostentatiously fine; showy; gay, but tawdry or meretricious.

Sticky; adhesive; raw; - said of paint, varnish, etc., when not well dried.

Gay; merry; festal.

Dowdy, shabby, or neglected in appearance; unkempt.

One of the large beads in the rosary at which the paternoster is recited.

In poor taste; appearing cheap; gaudy; unstylish. Broadly used to describe objects whose style is disapproved of by the speaker.

A feast or festival; - called also gaud-day and gaudy day.

Tactless; in poor taste; - used to describe behavior.

A celebratory feast held annually at one of the colleges in a British university

An ill-conditioned, ill-fed, or neglected horse; also, a person in a like condition.

Tastelessly showy;

(of a glutinous liquid such as paint) not completely dried and slightly sticky to the touch;

(used especially of clothes) marked by conspicuous display

Tastelessly showy;