Inky describes something that looks like ink or is stained with ink: dark, deep, and often a bit messy. When you accidentally knock over a bottle of ink, you might end up with inky fingers, stained that distinctive blue-black color that's hard to wash off. The night sky on a moonless evening can look inky, so dark and deep it seems almost liquid.

The word captures that particular quality of darkness that ink has: a rich, saturated darkness with depth to it. An inky shadow under a staircase feels different from an ordinary shadow because it seems almost solid. Writers often describe the ocean at night as inky depths, suggesting water so dark you can't see through it.

You might also hear people describe something as inky when it's covered with ink marks or blotches. A student wrestling with a fountain pen might end up with inky smudges all over their homework, or a printer might leave inky streaks across a page when its cartridge is running low.