What does "fluffy" mean?

1. (soft and light) covered with soft fur or feathers, or feeling very soft and light like a cloud. 2. (lacking depth) not serious or important; something that is pleasant but has no real meaning. 3. (vague or unclear) not clearly explained or defined; a bit confusing or 'fuzzy'. 4. (frothy milk drink) a small cup of frothed milk served to children in a café.

How do you use "fluffy"?

Commonly used in New Zealand and parts of Australia.

fluffy

adj. · n.

US //ˈfɫəfi// UK //flˈʌfi// fluffy

1 soft and light (adj.)
A2 Elementary

covered with soft fur or feathers, or feeling very soft and light like a cloud.

covered with or resembling fluff; characterized by a soft, light, and downy texture.

Example

The new puppy has very fluffy white fur that feels like silk.

Example

The pastry chef whipped the egg whites until they formed fluffy peaks, ensuring the souffle would rise perfectly in the oven.
- fuzzy
- downy
- soft
- rough
- coarse
2 lacking depth (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

not serious or important; something that is pleasant but has no real meaning.

superficial or lightweight in character; lacking intellectual depth or serious substance.

Example

I wanted a serious documentary, but this film was just a fluffy romantic comedy.

Example

Critics dismissed the interview as a fluffy piece of journalism that failed to challenge the politician on his controversial voting record.

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3 vague or unclear (adj.)
C1 Advanced Informal

not clearly explained or defined; a bit confusing or 'fuzzy'.

not clearly defined or rigorously explained; lacking precision or logical clarity.

Example

The company's plan for the future is still a bit fluffy and needs more detail.

Example

The proposal was criticized for its fluffy language, which masked a lack of concrete financial projections for the upcoming fiscal year.
- vague
- fuzzy
- imprecise
4 frothy milk drink (n.)
B1 Intermediate Dialect Cooking

a small cup of frothed milk served to children in a café.

a small serving of frothed milk, often topped with chocolate powder or marshmallows, intended for children.

Example

While I had a latte, my daughter enjoyed her fluffy with extra marshmallows.

Example

The café culture in the region is inclusive, often featuring a 'fluffy' on the menu to cater to families with young children.

Usage

Commonly used in New Zealand and parts of Australia.
- babycino

Origin

From fluff + -y. Compare German flauschig (“fluffy”).