adjective
stuffy
STUH-fee
adjective
1
Lacking fresh air; poorly ventilated and uncomfortably warm.
"The room got stuffy with all the windows closed."
2
Overly formal, old-fashioned, or self-important.
"He found the dinner party full of stuffy academics."
3
Blocked or congested, especially referring to the nose.
"Her cold left her with a stuffy nose all week."
How to Use Stuffy
Learner’s notesIn 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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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.