# fluff

/ˈfɫəf/ (US) · /flˈʌf/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fluff
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

soft, light pieces of wool, hair, or dust that look like small clouds. You often find it on your clothes or under your bed.

For teachers: soft, light, downy particles of fabric, hair, or dust that tend to accumulate in clusters. Often refers to superficial or trivial content in media or literature.

## Examples

- I need a brush to remove the white fluff from my black coat.
- The dryer filter was completely blocked with grey fluff after we washed the new wool blankets.
- While the lead actor's performance was technically sound, critics dismissed the screenplay as mere cinematic fluff that lacked the emotional depth of his previous work.

## Usage notes

- Often used metaphorically to describe entertainment or information that is light and lacks substance.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.