paddy

noun pad·dy \ ˈpa-dē \

variants: or less commonly padi

|Updated on: 29 Jul 2018

Definition of paddy

plural paddies also padis

1 : rice; especially : threshed unmilled rice

2 : wet land in which rice is grown

See paddy defined for English-language learners

See paddy defined for kids

Recent Examples of paddy from the Web

The final days of the tour are spent on the magical island of Bali, noted for its terraced, bright green rice paddies.

— phil marty, chicagotribune.com, "A wild look at Indonesia, a lauded hotel at a winning price and more," 2 July 2018
But military hardware aside, the base could be a suburban slice of Anytown U.S.A., laid over Pyeoungtaek’s rice paddies.

— Time, "Inside Camp Humphreys, South Korea: America's Largest Overseas Military Base," 13 July 2018
The inspiration for the shoes is Korea’s paddy fields, according to the website.

— rene wisely, Detroit Free Press, "Kybun Joya Shoes, sports collectibles, sushi, whiskey fill downtowns," 9 July 2018
In Nara, rescuers were searching for a man in his 60s who hasn’t returned after going to check his rice paddies, while in Kochi, a 40-year-old man in his car was seen washed away.

— Washington Post, "At least 3 dead, several missing in Japan heavy rain, floods," 6 July 2018
As detailed in a previous column, Hart was abandoned in a Vietnamese rice paddy as a newborn, covered in scabies and boils, before being rescued by a nun and adopted by American parents.

— heather knight, San Francisco Chronicle, "Businesses must help make streets cleaner and safer, chamber leader says," 10 May 2018
The outskirts of the southern resort city of Sanya is home to China’s largest submarine base, while other naval and naval air stations are scattered across its 34,000 square kilometers (13,100 square miles) of mountains, jungle and rice paddies.

— Washington Post, "Recent developments surrounding the South China Sea," 23 Apr. 2018
Set among rice paddies and coconut groves, the infinity pool was ideal for cooling off in the intense heat — summer in India lasts from April to June, and humidity is high in the south, with temperatures in the mid-90s.

— caren osten gerszberg, New York Times, "At a Yoga Retreat in India: Beach Walks, Body Treatments and Healing," 16 Feb. 2018
Some researchers, such as Hinrich Schaefer of New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, reckon that increasing numbers of cattle in India and China, along with more rice paddies in South-East Asia, are to blame.

— The Economist, "Scientists struggle to explain a worrying rise in atmospheric methane," 28 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'paddy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of paddy

Malay padi

First Known Use: 1623

in the meaning defined at sense 1

Paddy

noun Pad·dy \ ˈpa-dē \

Definition of Paddy

plural Paddies

slang, often disparaging + offensive

: irishman

Origin and Etymology of paddy

from Paddy, Hiberno-English nickname for Patrick

First Known Use: 1714

in the meaning defined above

PADDY Defined for English Language Learners

paddy

noun

Definition of paddy for English Language Learners

: a wet field where rice is grown

PADDY Defined for Kids

paddy

noun pad·dy \ ˈpa-dē \

Definition of paddy for Students

plural paddies

: wet land in which rice is grown

Learn More about paddy

See words that rhyme with paddy Spanish Central: Translation of paddy Nglish: Translation of paddy for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of paddy for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about paddy

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Paddy

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paddy

Definition of paddy for English Language Learners

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