English Reference
adjective · noun

fuzzy

adj. · n.
US /ˈfəzi/ UK /fˈʌzi/ fuzzy

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    adj.covered with soft, short hair or fibers.

    adj.covered with fuzz or fine, soft, short hairs or fibers.

    Simple

    The peach has a fuzzy skin that feels soft to the touch.

    In context

    The caterpillar was covered in fuzzy black bristles that served as a defense mechanism against local predators.

    downyfluffyfurred
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.not clear or easy to see; blurry.

    adj.lacking a clear outline or focus; blurred in appearance.

    Simple

    The photo was fuzzy because the camera moved while I was taking it.

    In context

    Without his glasses, the distant streetlights appeared as fuzzy glowing orbs against the dark sky.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.not clear in your mind; confused or not exact.

    adj.lacking precision or clarity in thought, expression, or definition.

    Simple

    I have a fuzzy memory of what happened during the accident.

    In context

    The witness provided only a fuzzy description of the suspect, making it difficult for the police to create an accurate sketch.

    vaguemuddledimprecise
  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    adj.making you feel happy, warm, and loved.

    adj.evoking a pleasant feeling of emotional warmth or affection; often used in the phrase 'warm and fuzzy'.

    Simple

    Watching the old family videos gave her a warm, fuzzy feeling.

    In context

    The charity's advertisement was designed to give viewers a fuzzy feeling of satisfaction for contributing to a good cause.

  5. 05 C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    adj.a type of computer logic that deals with 'mostly true' or 'partly true' instead of just 'yes' or 'no'.

    adj.relating to a form of set theory or logic in which variables may have degrees of truth between 0 and 1.

    Simple

    The washing machine uses fuzzy logic to decide how much water is needed.

    In context

    The control system employs fuzzy logic to manage the temperature fluctuations more smoothly than a standard thermostat could.

  6. 06 C2 Proficiency SlangBritish English

    n.a slang word for a police officer.

    n.a slang term for a police officer or the police force in general.

    Simple

    He saw the fuzzy coming and quickly hid his skateboard.

    In context

    The local youth often used the term 'the fuzzy' to refer to the patrol officers who frequented the park.

    Teacher's tip

    This term is somewhat dated and primarily found in British slang; modern learners are more likely to hear 'the feds' or 'the old bill' in the UK.


Uncertain. Apparently from fuzz + -y, though some sources suggest that fuzz derives from fuzzy. Compare fozy, or Low German fussig (“loose; spongy”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated