iffy

American  

[if-ee] / ˈɪf i /

adjective

Informal.

iffier, iffiest

1. full of unresolved points or questions.

   an iffy situation.

   Synonyms:

   speculative, uncertain, unsettled, doubtful

2. doubtful; questionable.

   An early decision on this is iffy.

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iffy British  

/ ˈɪfɪ /

adjective

1. informal uncertain or subject to contingency

   this scheme sounds a bit iffy

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Other Word Forms

• iffiness noun

Etymology

Origin of iffy

First recorded in 1915–20; if + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Revivals are always iffy, but with a simple story and just four episodes, this one seems primed for success, and a ton of fun.

From MarketWatch

The quality of such tiny companies is iffy and frauds are more common, so the services of a seasoned stock picker might be especially useful.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Will the federal government or other states cooperate with that? I think the answer to that is sort of iffy,” said Ilya Somin, a law professor at George Mason University in Virginia.

From Salon

The best hope for a potential superbloom is if Southern California can get some cool, wet weather next week, one expert says, but the chances of that are iffy.

From Los Angeles Times

The count is iffy because Glass pushes the boundaries between what we tend to call opera and the fuzzier idea of music theater.

From Los Angeles Times