Word
woolly
Phoneticswool·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈwʊɫi/
UK/wˈʊli/
Definition
adj. made of wool or looking like wool. It also describes ideas or thinking that are not clear or organized.
adj. consisting of or resembling wool; figuratively describes ideas, arguments, or thinking lacking in clarity or precision.
Examples
“She wore a thick, woolly jumper to stay warm.”
“The politician's speech was full of woolly promises that lacked any specific details about the budget.”
“While the initial proposal had merit, the subsequent implementation plan was criticized for being too woolly to provide actionable guidance for the engineering team.”
Examples
simple
“She wore a thick, woolly jumper to stay warm.”
contextual
“The politician's speech was full of woolly promises that lacked any specific details about the budget.”
complex
“While the initial proposal had merit, the subsequent implementation plan was criticized for being too woolly to provide actionable guidance for the engineering team.”
Usage
Often used figuratively to criticize a lack of intellectual rigour.
Real-World Examples
“One reader commented "In Tenerife woolly jumpers and boots are already in the shops and no sleeveless tops or shorts to be found even though it’s still hot and sunny".” Etymology
From Middle English wolly, equivalent to wool + -y. Cognate with Saterland Frisian wullich (“woolly”), Dutch wollig (“woolly”), German wollig (“woolly”), Swedish ullig (“woolly”).
From woolly back.
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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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