jiffy

noun

jif·​fy ˈji-fē How to pronounce jiffy (audio)
plural jiffies
informal
: a very short period of time : moment, instant sense 1
ready in a jiffy
Their troubles were all over in a jiffy.Roald Dahl
A small restaurant offering good Vietnamese food in a jiffy.New Times (Phoenix, Arizona)

Examples of jiffy in a Sentence

I'll be there in a jiffy.
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.
The duo is running it back for the third time, after creating two previous product lineups that sold out in a jiffy. Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 20 Aug. 2025 Scheffler rode that late-round momentum into an impressive three-shot lead, but Saturday's rollercoaster of a leaderboard is a reminder that what goes up can plummet in a jiffy. Mike Dojc, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025 However, there are some pretty big draws for out-of-towners looking to spend a week enjoying the area, including great restaurants, a brand-new luxury resort, and plenty of public beaches sure to put you on island time in a jiffy. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025 Alternatively, Keurig’s rinse pods will do the trick in a jiffy. Kelly Dawson, Architectural Digest, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for jiffy

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1779, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jiffy was in 1779

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Cite this Entry

“Jiffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jiffy. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

jiffy

noun
jif·​fy ˈjif-ē How to pronounce jiffy (audio)
plural jiffies
informal
: moment sense 1, instant
in a jiffy

More from Merriam-Webster on jiffy

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