powdery

adjective

pow·​dery ˈpau̇-də-rē 

1

a

: resembling or consisting of powder

powdery snow

b

: easily reduced to powder : crumbling

2

: covered with or as if with powder

Synonyms of powdery

• dusty
• fine

Examples of powdery in a Sentence

the beach's powdery white sand

We skied down the powdery slopes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Loewe’s new Iris Root caters to the floral lovers out there, who prefer a light, powdery fragrance, while the cedarwood and leather notes in Maison d’Etto’s Rotano might appeal to fans of woodier notes. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2025

Having hospitable locals around comes in handy when there are so many powdery nooks to discover. —Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2025

Other videos encourage viewers to ingest water laced with borax, a powdery substance found in laundry detergent, in order to reduce inflammation and joint pain. —Jason Liebowitz, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025

The texture feels alive—polished yet dynamic—helping the orris read more like modern tailoring rather than powdery nostalgia. —Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing powdery

• powdery mildew

Kids Definition

powdery

adjective

pow·​dery ˈpau̇d-ə-rē 

1

a

: resembling or consisting of powder

b

: easily made into a powder : crumbly

2

: covered with or as if with powder : dusty