Word
moldy
/ˈmoʊɫdi/
UK spelling · mouldy
Definition
adj. covered with a fuzzy, green, or white growth that happens when food or objects get old and damp. You usually see this on bread or fruit that has been kept too long.
adj. covered with or containing fungal growth, typically occurring on organic matter in damp, stagnant conditions. Often used to describe spoiled food or poorly ventilated buildings.
Examples
“I had to throw away the moldy bread.”
“The landlord promised to clean the moldy walls in the bathroom before the new tenants moved in.”
“The damp basement was filled with stacks of moldy newspapers that emitted a pungent, earthy odor throughout the entire house.”
Examples
simple
“I had to throw away the moldy bread.”
contextual
“The landlord promised to clean the moldy walls in the bathroom before the new tenants moved in.”
complex
“The damp basement was filled with stacks of moldy newspapers that emitted a pungent, earthy odor throughout the entire house.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “moldy” in context.
Verb
01. become moldy
“Fruit will become moldy quickly if you leave it in a warm room.”
verb + adj
02. look moldy
“Don't eat those strawberries; they look moldy.”
verb + adj
03. moldy taste
“The nuts had a strange, moldy taste and were clearly past their prime.”
adj + noun
04. turn moldy
“The cheese had turned moldy because the package wasn't sealed.”
verb + adj
Adjective
05. slightly moldy
“The bread was only slightly moldy, so I cut off the bad part.”
adv + adj
06. smell moldy
“The old basement started to smell moldy after the heavy rain.”
verb + adj
Noun
07. moldy bread
“He accidentally made a sandwich using moldy bread.”
adj + noun
08. moldy smell
“There was a strong moldy smell coming from the damp curtains.”
adj + noun
09. go moldy in the heat
“The peaches will go moldy in the heat if you don't put them in the fridge.”
10. throw away moldy food
“You should always throw away moldy food to avoid getting sick.”
Usage
Commonly used both attributively before a noun and predicatively after a linking verb like 'smell' or 'look'.
Pitfall
the bread is mouldy
the bread is moldy
Both spellings are correct, but 'moldy' is the standard American form while 'mouldy' is the British English standard.
Real-World Examples
“California Congressman Mike Levin, a Democrat, said the USS Abraham Lincoln had "moldy showers, broken toilets, laundry down for weeks, long stretches with no hot water, a meal that came down to half a cup of rice and two tortillas.” “A resident of Douglas has expressed that no family should be subjected to the damp and moldy living conditions she is currently facing.” “Many showers were found to be moldy and unsanitary, and frequent boiler failures during winter resulted in excessively cold cells.” “However, the phenomenon left some neighbors feeling uneasy last month when worries arose about the bananas becoming moldy.” Etymology
From mold + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/moldy