puffer

noun

puff·​er ˈpə-fər 

plural puffers

1

: any of a family (Tetraodontidae) of chiefly tropical scaleless marine bony fishes which can distend themselves to a globular form and most of which are highly poisonous : puffer fish

2

: a garment (such as a jacket) made of heavy quilted material

Yet this flood of fashion has a downside. … Can you layer a puffer over a suit without looking, well, portly?

—Jacob Gallagher

—often used before another noun

Roche, a slightly unkempt 54-year-old, wore black ski pants, a puffer jacket and sunglasses.

—Irina Aleksander

The new men's look … incorporates sporty items such as hoodies, puffer vests or jackets, camouflage patterns, sneakers, polo shirts and bomber jackets.

—Ray A. Smith

Once destined only for … occasions where highly practical (but often ugly) outerwear is required, the puffer coat has now infiltrated the world of high fashion.

—Otago (New Zealand) Daily Times (online)

These makers seem to be in alignment; the puffer scarf is the practical and stylish answer to frigid weather.

—Rachel Besser

3

: someone or something that puffs

Surrounded by two-pack-a-day cigarette puffers, he was a cigar smoker.

—Russell Baker

When it's wet or humid, lubricate sticky locks with a graphite puffer or talcum.

—Shannon Lush and Jennifer Fleming

Examples of puffer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

She gamely plays the part of the glamorous burgeoning pop star, in a fur-print puffer jacket, bra top and mismatched gold hoops that complement the edginess of her eyebrow slit. —Heran Mamo, Billboard, 28 Mar. 2024

Meanwhile, before her vacation birthday tribute to her twins, the star shared a carousel of images of herself wearing a large puffer jacket with a gray turtleneck knit sweater and sunglasses. —Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 23 Feb. 2024

On a subway platform in the Bronx recently, a girl in a puffer coat strolled past passengers with a basket of M&M’s, Kit Kats and Trident gum slung across her shoulder. —Andy Newman, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024

The machine-washable puffer coat has two exterior pockets in addition to cuffs to keep hands warm and button closures going towards the top of the neck for additional protection. —Casey Clark, Parents, 5 Mar. 2024

Not long after stepping out for dinner together in matching black looks, Swift and Mahomes also rocked matching red puffers to the Chiefs NFL wild-card game against the Miami Dolphins. —Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 26 Feb. 2024

Take the Pope’s photo in a puffer jacket, for example. —Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 11 Mar. 2024

In photos from the outing after a lunch date, Lopez could be seen in a pair of shades, a white puffer vest, a tan scarf and long-sleeve shirt, some brown boots and her fashionable dark-denim-blue trousers — which featured several buttons and extended to the bottom of her boots. —Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 26 Feb. 2024

The puffer vest seen on various celebs today is the first licensed NFL drop by Kristin Juszczyk Designs. —Jason Abbruzzese, NBC News, 12 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing puffer

• puffer fish

Kids Definition

puffer

noun

puff·​er ˈpəf-ər 

1

: one that puffs

2

: puffer fish

Medical Definition

puffer

noun

puff·​er ˈpəf-ər 

: puffer fish