Entry 1 sense Webster, 1913 Poignancy /poin'-yən-sē/ · Poign·an·cy · IPA /ˈpɔɪnjən(t)si/ 01 n. The quality or state of being poignant; as, the poignancy of satire; the poignancy of grief. 1. The quality or state of being poignant; as, the poignancy of satire; the poignancy of grief.