name
Debby
Debby (name) means an alternate spelling of the nickname Debbie, short for Deborah. Example: “She signs her emails "Debby" rather than "Debbie".”
name
1
An alternate spelling of the nickname Debbie, short for Deborah.
"She signs her emails "Debby" rather than "Debbie"."
adj
1
Resembling or characteristic of a debutante.
"The Harbour Bar was full of Royal Navy officers with debby girls. The debbiest took McKinley and me sailing, and afterwards we drank tankards of Pimms in the Yacht Club."
— John Mellors, Shots in the Dark (1974)
"The dress had a slightly debby, coming-out-ball look to it."
How to use Debby
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMainly a spelling variant of the nickname Debbie; rarely also an adjective meaning debutante-like.
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Word forms
- Comparative
- debbier
- Superlative
- debbiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She signs her emails "_____" rather than "Debbie".
Etymology
From Deborah plus "-y"; the adjective sense is an informal derivation from "debutante".
Rhymes for Debby
See all rhymes for Debby →Frequently asked questions
What does “Debby” mean?
The word “Debby” means an alternate spelling of the nickname Debbie, short for Deborah. In plain terms, mainly a spelling variant of the nickname Debbie; rarely also an adjective meaning debutante-like.
How do you use “Debby” in a sentence?
Here is “Debby” used in a sentence: “She signs her emails "Debby" rather than "Debbie".”
What part of speech is “Debby”?
Depending on how it is used, “Debby” can be a name and an adjective.
How many meanings does “Debby” have?
“Debby” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an alternate spelling of the nickname Debbie, short for Deborah.
