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REFERENCE

fuzzy

adj. · n.
US //ˈfəzi// UK //fˈʌzi// fuzzy
  1. 1 soft and hairy (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    covered with soft, short hair or fibers.

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The caterpillar was covered in fuzzy black bristles that served as a defense mechanism against local predators.
  2. 2 blurry or out of focus (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    not clear or easy to see; blurry.

    lacking a clear outline or focus; blurred in appearance.

    Example

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

    Example

    Without his glasses, the distant streetlights appeared as fuzzy glowing orbs against the dark sky.
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  1. 3 vague or imprecise (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    not clear in your mind; confused or not exact.

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The witness provided only a fuzzy description of the suspect, making it difficult for the police to create an accurate sketch.
  2. 4 warm and comforting (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    making you feel happy, warm, and loved.

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The charity's advertisement was designed to give viewers a fuzzy feeling of satisfaction for contributing to a good cause.
  3. 5 fuzzy logic (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Computing

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The control system employs fuzzy logic to manage the temperature fluctuations more smoothly than a standard thermostat could.
  4. 6 the police (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Slang British English

    a slang word for a police officer.

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

    Example

    He saw the fuzzy coming and quickly hid his skateboard.

    Example

    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.
Origin

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

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