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

Tencent Video described PetTV as a "24-hour happiness hub specially designed for your furry kids" in a post on social media app WeChat introducing the service last weekend.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

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

From independent cafes to restaurants and shopping centres, an increasing amount of retailers are taking the leap in welcoming furry friends, including well-known brands Ikea, John Lewis, Zara, H&M and Lush.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

Kid Rock headlined in a furry white vest, cutoff shorts and a fedora, singing his late-1990s hit “Bawitdaba” to a modest crowd indoors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

The creature put his furry paws in the air.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

Related Words

• fuzzy
• shaggy
• woolly