stuffing
- 01 B1 Intermediate
the soft material used to fill things like pillows, cushions, or soft toys.
the material, such as feathers, foam, or synthetic fibre, used to fill hollow objects like upholstery or bedding.
Simple“The old teddy bear was losing its stuffing through a small hole in its arm.”
In context“After years of use, the sofa cushions had become flat and required new foam stuffing to restore their original shape.”
UsageUncountable in this general sense.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
a mixture of bread, herbs, and vegetables used to fill meat before cooking.
a seasoned mixture, typically consisting of breadcrumbs, herbs, and onions, placed inside poultry or meat before roasting.
Simple“We always have sage and onion stuffing with our roast turkey at Christmas.”
In context“The chef prepared a traditional chestnut stuffing, carefully packing it into the cavity of the bird to ensure it absorbed the juices during roasting.”
UsageCommonly uncountable, though 'stuffings' can refer to different varieties.
Teacher's tipIn American English, this is often called 'dressing' when cooked in a separate dish rather than inside the bird.
- 03 C1 Advanced
putting too many keywords into a website to try and get more visitors.
the unethical practice of loading a webpage with keywords to manipulate search engine rankings.
Simple“The website was penalised by Google for keyword stuffing.”
In context“Early SEO tactics often relied on keyword stuffing, but modern algorithms now identify and penalise such transparent attempts at manipulation.”
UsageUsually appears in the compound 'keyword stuffing'.
- 04 C1 Advanced
a very bad loss in a game or competition.
a comprehensive or humiliating defeat in a sporting contest or competition.
Simple“The home team took a real stuffing, losing the match six-nil.”
In context“After their unexpected stuffing in the semi-finals, the manager faced intense pressure from the fans to resign.”
UsageOften used with the verb 'to get' or 'to take'.
- 05 C2 Proficiency
a very rude and slang word for sex.
a vulgar slang term for the act of penetrative sexual intercourse.
Simple“He made a crude joke about giving her a stuffing.”
In context“The dialogue in the film was criticised for its reliance on vulgarisms and references to stuffing.”
Teacher's tipThis is highly offensive in most contexts; learners should be aware of the meaning to avoid accidental use.
By surface analysis, stuff + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.