noun
dowd
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
1
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."
""You wouldn't have me a dowd, Olaf?" said she, demurely. "I have to be neat and tidy, you know. You wouldn't have me going about in a continuous state of unbuttonedness and black bombazine like Mrs. Rabbet, would you?""
— James Branch Cabell (1915)
How to use dowd
Learner’s notesIn 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
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like dowd.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- dowds
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She used to be a _____, but her new stylist completely transformed her look.
Etymology
A back-formation from the adjective "dowdy."
Rhymes for dowd
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.
