Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

1

fuzz

noun \ ˈfəz \
See What's Trending Now See More Trending Words

Definition of fuzz

1 : fine light particles or fibers (as of down or fluff)
2 : a blurred effect

Origin and Etymology of fuzz

probably back-formation from fuzzy

2

fuzz

verb

Definition of fuzz

intransitive verb
1 : to fly off in or become covered with fluffy particles
2 : to become blurred
  • her frame of reference fuzzing at the edges
  • —Jane O'Reilly
transitive verb
1 : to make fuzzy
2 : to envelop in a haze

First Known Use of fuzz

circa 1702

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler
3

fuzz

noun

Definition of fuzz

: police; also : a police officer

Origin and Etymology of fuzz

origin unknown

Phrases Related to FUZZ

Related Phrases

FUZZ Defined for Kids

fuzz

noun \ ˈfəz \

Definition of fuzz for Students

: fine light hairs or fibers

Learn More about fuzz

  1. See words that rhyme with fuzz Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fuzz Spanish Central: Translation of fuzz Nglish: Translation of fuzz for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up fuzz? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

raillery

play

good-natured ridicule

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. embolization 'the process by which a blood vessel or organ is obstructed by a material mass'

  2. oleaginous 'marked by an offensively ingratiating manner or quality'

  3. pansexual 'sexual desire or attraction...not limited to a particular gender identity or sexual orientation'

  4. symbiote 'an organism living in symbiosis'

  5. charlatan 'faker or fraud'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

fuzz

Test Your Vocabulary

Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

  • image1676440788
  • Choose the best definition or synonym for the word in bold: "There are some eructations that sound like cheers—at least, mine did." Lolita
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Add Diction

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

image1481409085
9 Words from the Magical Realm

When language is magic

alt-5afefa13cc811
A Field Guide to British Noble Titles

Know your Duchess from your Baroness

image1720821498
7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

When it doesn't go as planned

alt-5afd9816817c1
Putting the History of 'Limelight' Center Stage

It's, ahem, an illuminating story.

Ask the Editors

video-ghost-words
Ghost Word

The story of an imaginary word that managed to sneak past our editors and enter the dictionary.

image1760257654
2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-literally
Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her
Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

image1676440788
Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

How familiar are you with Nabokov’s unfamiliar vocabulary?

Take the quiz
cow-coming-home
Farm Idioms Quiz

Not your children's farm quiz.

Take the quiz
Spell It
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Take the quiz
Add Diction
Add Diction

Build a chain of words by adding one letter at a time.

Play the game