taffy

American  

[taf-ee] / ˈtæf i /

noun

plural

taffies

1. a chewy candy made of sugar or corn syrup boiled down with butter or oil, pulled or stretched back and forth to incorporate air bubbles, then rolled, twisted, and cut into pieces.

2. Informal. flattery.

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taffy ¹ British  

/ ˈtæfɪ /

noun

1. a chewy sweet made of brown sugar or molasses and butter, boiled and then pulled so that it becomes glossy

2. a less common term for toffee

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Taffy ² British  

/ ˈtæfɪ /

noun

1. a slang word or nickname for a Welshman

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Etymology

Origin of taffy

First recorded in 1815–25; northern English dialect variant of toffee; toffee ( def. )

Example Sentences

By late September, the striped umbrellas are folded, the taffy shops go dark and the only thing moving along the boardwalk is the autumn wind.

From Salon • Oct. 11, 2025

It’s basically taffy with a peanut butter center, a joyous merger that has been made since the 1970s by Annabelle Candy Co. in Hayward.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 1, 2023

“About 750 million years ago, the supercontinent began to thin and pull apart like warm taffy because of expansion of the continental crust,” Sandra H.B.

From National Geographic • Oct. 13, 2023

Ms. Strobel said the deer did not leave empty-mouthed, taking with it a piece of butter popcorn taffy.

From Washington Times • Aug. 29, 2023

It was getting late, but time seemed to stretch like taffy.

From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez