# fuzzy

/ˈfəzi/ (US) · /fˈʌzi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fuzzy
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. soft and hairy

adjective · CEFR B1

covered with soft, short hair or fibers.

For teachers: covered with fuzz or fine, soft, short hairs or fibers.

- The peach has a fuzzy skin that feels soft to the touch.
- The caterpillar was covered in fuzzy black bristles that served as a defense mechanism against local predators.

### 2. blurry or out of focus

adjective · CEFR B2

not clear or easy to see; blurry.

For teachers: lacking a clear outline or focus; blurred in appearance.

- The photo was fuzzy because the camera moved while I was taking it.
- Without his glasses, the distant streetlights appeared as fuzzy glowing orbs against the dark sky.

### 3. vague or imprecise

adjective · CEFR B2

not clear in your mind; confused or not exact.

For teachers: lacking precision or clarity in thought, expression, or definition.

- I have a fuzzy memory of what happened during the accident.
- The witness provided only a fuzzy description of the suspect, making it difficult for the police to create an accurate sketch.

### 4. warm and comforting

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

making you feel happy, warm, and loved.

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

- Watching the old family videos gave her a warm, fuzzy feeling.
- The charity's advertisement was designed to give viewers a fuzzy feeling of satisfaction for contributing to a good cause.

### 5. fuzzy logic

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- The washing machine uses fuzzy logic to decide how much water is needed.
- The control system employs fuzzy logic to manage the temperature fluctuations more smoothly than a standard thermostat could.

### 6. the police

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · British English

a slang word for a police officer.

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

- He saw the fuzzy coming and quickly hid his skateboard.
- The local youth often used the term 'the fuzzy' to refer to the patrol officers who frequented the park.

Teaching 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.

## Examples

- The new peach has a fuzzy skin.
- The television signal is weak, so the picture on the screen looks fuzzy and distorted.
- The witness provided only a fuzzy recollection of the events, making it difficult for the investigators to construct a reliable timeline of the incident.

---

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.