downy

[ dou-nee ]

adjective

, down·i·er, down·i·est.

1. of the nature of or resembling down; fluffy; soft.
2. made of down.
3. covered with down.
4. soft; soothing.

downy

/ ˈdaʊnɪ /

adjective

1. covered with soft fine hair or feathers
2. light, soft, and fluffy
3. made from or filled with down
4. resembling downs; undulating
5. slang.
   sharp-witted; knowing

Derived Forms

• ˈdowniness, noun

Other Words From

• downi·ly adverb
• downi·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of downy¹

First recorded in 1540–50; down ² + -y ¹

Example Sentences

His earliest memories of fabric were totally sensory, he said, recalling the downy feel of a jamawar shawl at home in Srinagar and the soft warmth of his mother's shahtoosh saris.

From BBC

As if she’d been bowled over by a hurricane-force wind, the woman fell back into the arms of her fellow believers, who gently eased her to the ground, where she lay in the downy grass with four other siblings in Christ, overcome by the sublime presence of the Holy Spirit.

From Slate

In warm weather, it’s alive with nuthatches, chickadees, sometimes a downy woodpecker.

From Seattle Times

Pillows and throws are a must: A cozy room is the place to go a little overboard with downy and woolly textiles, to soften the look of the room and give people the option of customizing their comfort level.

From Seattle Times

Disease-resistance abbreviations like A and DM indicate that a plant is resistant to anthracnose and downy mildew respectively, crucial information if your garden has had issues with these.

From Seattle Times