adj

balmy

BAH-mee

Balmy (adj) means of weather, pleasantly warm and mild. Example: “It was a balmy evening, perfect for dining outside.”

adj

Of weather, pleasantly warm and mild.

"It was a balmy evening, perfect for dining outside."

"The balmy breeze off the sea made the walk lovely."

Slightly crazy or foolish (British slang).

"You'd have to be balmy to try that stunt."

How to use balmy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishPleasantly mild weather, or (informally, mainly UK) a bit mad.

UK vs US

The "crazy" sense is distinctly British and rarely used in American English.

Easily confused with

barmy → balm →

balmier comparative, balmiest superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

It was a _____ evening, perfect for dining outside.

From "balm" plus -y, originally describing air as soft and fragrant as balm; the "crazy" sense developed separately in British slang.

What does “balmy” mean?

The word “balmy” means of weather, pleasantly warm and mild. In plain terms, pleasantly mild weather, or (informally, mainly UK) a bit mad.

How do you pronounce “balmy”?

“Balmy” is pronounced BAH-mee (/ˈbɑmi/ in IPA).

How do you use “balmy” in a sentence?

Here is “balmy” used in a sentence: “It was a balmy evening, perfect for dining outside.”

What part of speech is “balmy”?

“Balmy” is an adjective.

How many meanings does “balmy” have?

“Balmy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: of weather, pleasantly warm and mild.