adjective

dowdy

DOW-dee

Dowdy (adjective) means Old-fashioned and unattractive in style, especially of clothing. Example: “She complained that the uniform made her look dowdy.”

adjective

Old-fashioned and unattractive in style, especially of clothing.

"She complained that the uniform made her look dowdy."

"The hotel lobby had a dowdy, dated decor."

How to use dowdy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUnfashionable and drab, usually describing clothes or style.

Easily confused with

dowdy →

Common pairings

dowdy dress dowdy look

Word forms

dowdier comparative, dowdied past tense, dowdies plural, Dowdys plural, dowdies singular, dowdiest superlative

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She complained that the uniform made her look _____.

Etymology

First recorded around 1581; probably related to "dow," a Scots word meaning to fade or wither.

· First attested 1581

Class of 1581 dowdy joined the language around 1581.

See the full Class of 1581 →

Rhymes for dowdy

howdy rowdy

See all rhymes for dowdy →

Frequently asked questions

What does “dowdy” mean?

The word “dowdy” means old-fashioned and unattractive in style, especially of clothing. In plain terms, unfashionable and drab, usually describing clothes or style.

How do you pronounce “dowdy”?

“Dowdy” is pronounced DOW-dee (/ˈdaʊdi/ in IPA).

How do you use “dowdy” in a sentence?

Here is “dowdy” used in a sentence: “She complained that the uniform made her look dowdy.”

What part of speech is “dowdy”?

“Dowdy” is an adjective.

Where does the word “dowdy” come from?

The word “dowdy” dates back to around 1581. First recorded around 1581; probably related to "dow," a Scots word meaning to fade or wither.