adjective C1 Advanced

stuffy

STUH-fee

Stuffy (adjective) means lacking fresh air; poorly ventilated and uncomfortably warm. Example: “The room got stuffy with all the windows closed.”

adjective

Lacking fresh air; poorly ventilated and uncomfortably warm.

"The room got stuffy with all the windows closed."

Overly formal, old-fashioned, or self-important.

"He found the dinner party full of stuffy academics."

Blocked or congested, especially referring to the nose.

"Her cold left her with a stuffy nose all week."

How to use stuffy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDescribes a badly ventilated room, an overly formal person, or a blocked nose.

Common pairings

stuffy nose stuffy room stuffy old man

Word forms

stuffier comparative, stuffies plural, stuffiest superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The room got _____ with all the windows closed.

Etymology

From stuff + the adjective-forming suffix -y, originally describing a room that felt "stuffed up" with stale air.

Rhymes for stuffy

huffy puffy buffy Duffy Muffy fluffy scruffy

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Frequently asked questions

What does “stuffy” mean?

The word “stuffy” means lacking fresh air; poorly ventilated and uncomfortably warm. In plain terms, describes a badly ventilated room, an overly formal person, or a blocked nose.

How do you pronounce “stuffy”?

“Stuffy” is pronounced STUH-fee (/ˈstʌfi/ in IPA).

How do you use “stuffy” in a sentence?

Here is “stuffy” used in a sentence: “The room got stuffy with all the windows closed.”

What part of speech is “stuffy”?

“Stuffy” is an adjective.

How many meanings does “stuffy” have?

“Stuffy” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: lacking fresh air; poorly ventilated and uncomfortably warm.

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