furry

¹ American  

[fur-ee] / ˈfɜr i /

adjective

furrier, furriest

1. consisting of or resembling fur.

   a deep, furry rug in front of the fireplace;

   the furry undergrowth of the forest.

2. covered with fur.

   Many furry animals are in danger of becoming extinct.

3. obstructed or coated as if with fur: a furry tongue.

   a furry voice;

   a furry tongue.

4. Slang. terrifying; hair-raising.

   There were some pretty furry moments in the movie last night.

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furry ² American  

[fur-ee] / ˈfɜr i /

noun

1. a member of a subculture devoted to art, writing, or costumes depicting anthropomorphic animals.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the furry fandom.

   Furry art commissions are often well-paid.

furry British  

/ ˈfɜːrɪ /

adjective

1. covered with fur or something furlike

2. of, relating to, or resembling fur

3. another word for furred

4. Also: furred.  (of the tongue) coated with whitish cellular debris

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Other Word Forms

• furrily adverb
• furriness noun

Etymology

Origin of furry¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; fur + -y ¹

Origin of furry²

First recorded in 1985–90; special use of furry ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

Something that's furry is covered with fur, or a thick coat of hair. Unless she's one of the unusual hairless breeds, like a Sphinx, your cat is probably furry. Most mammals are furry, in fact, while reptiles tend to be scaly instead. Santa Claus is famous not just for wearing a furry red and white suit, but also for having a long, furry beard. Anything with a surface that resembles fur is furry, from a furry sweater to the furry leaf of a plant.

Example Sentences

Beyond the shopping, events often include drag shows, photos with Santa, food trucks, clothing swaps, and even furry fashion shows.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

A wild possum joined stuffed furry friends in an Australian airport gift shop this week, surprising travellers in an adorable case of hide and squeak.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

"When she comes skiing, it's nice to get to the bottom of the piste, win or lose, and have this furry ball of love waiting for me."

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

To survive in these tough conditions, the species has developed an unusually thick winter coat and extra furry feet that can provide snowshoe-like support as they traverse deep snow.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

Gingersnipes floated nearby, her belly poking from the water like a furry rock.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Related Words

• fuzzy
• shaggy
• woolly