iffy

[if-ee]

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.

iffy

/ ˈɪfɪ /

adjective

1. informal,  uncertain or subject to contingency

   this scheme sounds a bit iffy

Other Word Forms

• iffiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of iffy¹

First recorded in 1915–20; if + -y ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of iffy¹

C20: from _if + _-y ¹

Example Sentences

Buffalo has its problems: iffy defense, offensive inconsistency, and turnovers, but QB Josh Allen remains a multithreat headache and a healthy Bills team on a chilly January afternoon is a menace.

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One reason for the caution on holiday hiring: Americans’ willingness to spend during the holidays is looking iffy.

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In the final month of the season, remember, the Dodgers entertained a flurry of ideas about how to best combine a talented rotation and an iffy bullpen into an effective October staff.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Things are a little more iffy and there’s a lot more risk on the horizon,” Elizabeth Renter, senior economist at NerdWallet, told MarketWatch.

Read more on MarketWatch

Even after success, Keaton remained iffy about her looks, her talent and her achievements.

Read more on Los Angeles Times