noun
nappy
NA-pee
Nappy (noun) means an absorbent garment worn by babies (or others needing one) who cannot yet control their bladder or bowels; a diaper. Example: “Could you grab a clean nappy from the bag?”
noun
1
An absorbent garment worn by babies (or others needing one) who cannot yet control their bladder or bowels; a diaper.
"Could you grab a clean nappy from the bag?"
"They go through dozens of nappies a week with a newborn."
adj
1
Describing hair that is tightly curled or frizzy, often used of Afro-textured hair.
"She wore her nappy hair naturally, without straightening it."
How to use nappy
Learner’s notes
UK vs US
"Nappy" is the standard British English word; American English uses "diaper" instead.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
change a nappy
nappy bag
nappy hair
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Word forms
- Plural
- nappies
- Third person singular
- nappies
- Past tense
- nappied
- Comparative
- nappier
- Superlative
- nappiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Could you grab a clean _____ from the bag?
Etymology
A shortened, "-y" form likely built on napkin, itself already a smaller version of an older word for cloth.
Related words
Rhymes for nappy
See all rhymes for nappy →Frequently asked questions
What does “nappy” mean?
The word “nappy” means an absorbent garment worn by babies (or others needing one) who cannot yet control their bladder or bowels; a diaper.
How do you pronounce “nappy”?
“Nappy” is pronounced NA-pee (/ˈnæpi/ in IPA).
How do you use “nappy” in a sentence?
Here is “nappy” used in a sentence: “Could you grab a clean nappy from the bag?”
What part of speech is “nappy”?
Depending on how it is used, “nappy” can be a noun and an adjective.
How many meanings does “nappy” have?
“Nappy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an absorbent garment worn by babies (or others needing one) who cannot yet control their bladder or bowels; a diaper.
