# moldy

/ˈmoʊɫdi/ (US) · CEFR B1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/moldy
Updated: 2026-10-17

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "the bread is mouldy" but "the bread is moldy" — Both spellings are correct, but 'moldy' is the standard American form while 'mouldy' is the British English standard.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used both attributively before a noun and predicatively after a linking verb like 'smell' or 'look'.

---

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.