fluff

1 of 2

noun

ˈfləf 

1

: down entry 7 sense 1

2

: something fluffy

dandelion fluff

3

: something inconsequential

4

: blunder

especially : an actor's lapse of memory

fluff

2 of 2

verb

fluffed; fluffing; fluffs

transitive verb

1

: to make fluffy

fluff the pillows

birds fluffing up their feathers

2

a

: to spoil by a mistake : botch

b

: to deliver badly or forget (one's lines) in a play

intransitive verb

1

: to become fluffy

2

: to make a mistake

especially : to forget or bungle one's lines in a play

Synonyms

Noun

• down
• floss
• fur
• fuzz
• lint
• nap
• pile

Verb

• blunder
• boob [British]
• err
• flub
• foul up
• fumble
• goof (up)
• louse up
• mess (up)
• screw up
• slip up
• stumble
• trip

Examples of fluff in a Sentence

Noun

Her sweater was covered with fluff.

The movie was pure fluff.

Her latest article has the usual fluff about movie stars and gossip.

Verb

The wind fluffed his hair.

The golfer fluffed another shot.

The actor kept fluffing the same line.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Strip the fluff from your vocabulary and speak with certainty. —Jodie Cook, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024

The baffle-box construction—an internal stitching technique that helps evenly distribute the fill—means the fluff won’t end up bunched in one spot. —Suzy Forman, SELF, 24 Oct. 2024

Verb

Gently towel dry the hide or use a blow dryer until the fur is fluffed and no longer damp. —Beka Garris, Outdoor Life, 20 Nov. 2024

Them Up Filling is made up of individual fibers, which can be redistributed by fluffing the couch cushions. —Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

perhaps blend of flue (fluff) and puff

First Known Use

Noun

1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1835, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

fluff

1 of 2 noun

ˈfləf 

1

: nap entry 3, down

2

: something fluffy

fluff

2 of 2 verb

: to make or become fluffy