leaky
UK: ˈliːki | US: ˈliːki
adj. allowing liquid or gas to pass through unintentionally
adj. prone to revealing secret or confidential information
The word "leaky" combines the root "leak," derived from Middle Dutch leken (to drip or seep), with the English adjectival suffix "-y," indicating a characteristic. The root "leak" originally described the physical passage of liquids but later extended metaphorically to information disclosure. The suffix "-y" (from Old English -ig) is a productive morpheme forming adjectives, often implying "having the quality of." Thus, "leaky" literally means "having the tendency to leak," whether literally (fluids) or figuratively (secrets).
The roof is leaky and needs immediate repair.
A leaky faucet can waste hundreds of gallons of water annually.
The company fired an employee for having a leaky mouth about upcoming projects.
Despite its age, the boat remained sturdy, though slightly leaky.
Cybersecurity experts warned that the software was leaky and vulnerable to data breaches.