noun

dowd

Dowd (noun) means a person, especially a woman, who dresses in a dull, unfashionable, or frumpy way. Example: “She used to be a dowd, but her new stylist completely transformed her look.”

noun

A person, especially a woman, who dresses in a dull, unfashionable, or frumpy way.

"She used to be a dowd, but her new stylist completely transformed her look."

How to use dowd

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone who looks frumpy or old-fashioned rather than stylish.

Common mistake

Rare as a standalone noun today — most people only know the adjective form "dowdy."

Easily confused with

dowdy →

Word forms

dowds plural, Dowds plural

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Fill the gap

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She used to be a _____, but her new stylist completely transformed her look.

Etymology

A back-formation from the adjective "dowdy."

Rhymes for dowd

crowd

See all rhymes for dowd →

Frequently asked questions

What does “dowd” mean?

The word “dowd” means a person, especially a woman, who dresses in a dull, unfashionable, or frumpy way. In plain terms, someone who looks frumpy or old-fashioned rather than stylish.

How do you pronounce “dowd”?

“Dowd” is pronounced dowd (/daʊd/ in IPA).

How do you use “dowd” in a sentence?

Here is “dowd” used in a sentence: “She used to be a dowd, but her new stylist completely transformed her look.”

What part of speech is “dowd”?

“Dowd” is a noun.