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noun

taffy

TA-fee
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Taffy (noun) means a soft, chewy candy made by boiling and pulling sugar or syrup with butter. Example: “They sold saltwater taffy at the boardwalk stand.”

noun
1
A soft, chewy candy made by boiling and pulling sugar or syrup with butter.
"They sold saltwater taffy at the boardwalk stand."
2
Smooth, exaggerated flattery.
"Cut out the taffy. Who's your friend?" — Upton Sinclair, The Machine (1912)
"His compliments were pure taffy, meant to win her over."

How to use taffy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA chewy, stretchy candy, or, informally, insincere flattery.

Common pairings
saltwater taffy pull taffy
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Word forms

Plural
taffies
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Fill the gap

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They sold saltwater _____ at the boardwalk stand.

Etymology

Probably related to tafia (“a type of rum”).

Rhymes for taffy

See all rhymes for taffy →

Frequently asked questions

What does “taffy” mean?
The word “taffy” means a soft, chewy candy made by boiling and pulling sugar or syrup with butter. In plain terms, a chewy, stretchy candy, or, informally, insincere flattery.
How do you pronounce “taffy”?
“Taffy” is pronounced TA-fee (/ˈtæ.fi/ in IPA).
How do you use “taffy” in a sentence?
Here is “taffy” used in a sentence: “They sold saltwater taffy at the boardwalk stand.”
What part of speech is “taffy”?
“Taffy” is a noun.
How many meanings does “taffy” have?
“Taffy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soft, chewy candy made by boiling and pulling sugar or syrup with butter.
etymology from Wiktionary