# stuffing

/ˈstəfɪŋ/ (US) · /stˈʌfɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stuffing
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. cushion/toy filling

noun · CEFR B1

the soft material used to fill things like pillows, cushions, or soft toys.

For teachers: the material, such as feathers, foam, or synthetic fibre, used to fill hollow objects like upholstery or bedding.

- The old teddy bear was losing its stuffing through a small hole in its arm.
- After years of use, the sofa cushions had become flat and required new foam stuffing to restore their original shape.

Usage: Uncountable in this general sense.

### 2. food

noun · CEFR B1

a mixture of bread, herbs, and vegetables used to fill meat before cooking.

For teachers: a seasoned mixture, typically consisting of breadcrumbs, herbs, and onions, placed inside poultry or meat before roasting.

- We always have sage and onion stuffing with our roast turkey at Christmas.
- The chef prepared a traditional chestnut stuffing, carefully packing it into the cavity of the bird to ensure it absorbed the juices during roasting.

Usage: Commonly uncountable, though 'stuffings' can refer to different varieties.

Teaching tip: In American English, this is often called 'dressing' when cooked in a separate dish rather than inside the bird.

### 3. search engine manipulation

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

putting too many keywords into a website to try and get more visitors.

For teachers: the unethical practice of loading a webpage with keywords to manipulate search engine rankings.

- The website was penalised by Google for keyword stuffing.
- Early SEO tactics often relied on keyword stuffing, but modern algorithms now identify and penalise such transparent attempts at manipulation.

Usage: Usually appears in the compound 'keyword stuffing'.

### 4. a heavy defeat

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

a very bad loss in a game or competition.

For teachers: a comprehensive or humiliating defeat in a sporting contest or competition.

- The home team took a real stuffing, losing the match six-nil.
- After their unexpected stuffing in the semi-finals, the manager faced intense pressure from the fans to resign.

Usage: Often used with the verb 'to get' or 'to take'.

### 5. sexual intercourse

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Vulgar

a very rude and slang word for sex.

For teachers: a vulgar slang term for the act of penetrative sexual intercourse.

- He made a crude joke about giving her a stuffing.
- The dialogue in the film was criticised for its reliance on vulgarisms and references to stuffing.

Teaching tip: This is highly offensive in most contexts; learners should be aware of the meaning to avoid accidental use.

## Examples

- The turkey is ready for the stuffing.
- She prepared a traditional sage and onion stuffing to go inside the roast chicken for Sunday dinner.
- The antique chair required new stuffing after the original horsehair padding began to disintegrate and poke through the velvet upholstery.

---

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.