tiff

1 of 2

noun

: a petty quarrel

tiff

2 of 2

verb

tiffed; tiffing; tiffs

intransitive verb

: to have a petty quarrel

Examples of tiff in a Sentence

Noun got into a little tiff about what color sheets to buy for their bed Verb like any couple, they occasionally tiff, but it's never anything serious
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Ryan Kang | Getty Images Sports fans who watch games on YouTube TV got good news yesterday amid Google's tiff with Fox. Alex Harring, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2025 Alex gets in a tiff with Boyd Holbrook’s provocative podcaster Brodie, but they are later seen face to face in what looks like close quarters. Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2025 As a tiff among a group of women turned physical, at least half a dozen officers rushed in. Ella McCarthy, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025 Over the months since its release, that tiff has settled as the focus shifted toward hope for their release after three decades in prison. Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for tiff

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1754, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1700, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tiff was in 1700

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tiff. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

tiff

noun
ˈtif
: a minor quarrel

More from Merriam-Webster on tiff

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!