adj

downy

DOW-nee

Downy (adj) means Covered with soft, fine fluff or fine hair, like young feathers. Example: “The chick had downy yellow feathers.”

adj

Covered with soft, fine fluff or fine hair, like young feathers.

"The chick had downy yellow feathers."

"She stroked the downy fuzz on the baby's head."

How to use downy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSoft and fluffy, like the fine feathers on a baby bird.

Common pairings

downy feathers downy fuzz downy cheek

Word forms

downier comparative, downies plural, downiest superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The chick had _____ yellow feathers.

Etymology

From down ("soft fine feathers") + -y.

Frequently asked questions

What does “downy” mean?

The word “downy” means covered with soft, fine fluff or fine hair, like young feathers. In plain terms, soft and fluffy, like the fine feathers on a baby bird.

How do you pronounce “downy”?

“Downy” is pronounced DOW-nee (/ˈdaʊni/ in IPA).

How do you use “downy” in a sentence?

Here is “downy” used in a sentence: “The chick had downy yellow feathers.”

What part of speech is “downy”?

“Downy” is an adjective.