fluff

American  

[fluhf] / flʌf /

noun

1. light, downy particles, as of cotton.

2. a soft, light, downy mass.

   a fluff of summer clouds.

3. something of no consequence.

   The book is pure fluff, but fun to read.

4. an error or blunder, especially an actor's memory lapse in the delivery of lines.

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verb (used with object)

1. to make into fluff; shake or puff out (feathers, hair, etc.) into a fluffy mass (often followed byup ).

   to fluff up the sofa pillows.

2. to make a mistake in.

   The leading man fluffed his lines.

verb (used without object)

1. to become fluffy; move, float, or settle down like fluff.

2. to make a mistake, especially in the delivery of lines by a performer; blunder.

fluff British  

/ flʌf /

noun

1. soft light particles, such as the down or nap of cotton or wool

2. any light downy substance

3. an object, matter, etc, of little importance; trifle

4. informal a mistake, esp in speaking or reading lines or performing music

5. informal a young woman (esp in the phrase a bit of fluff )

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verb

1. to make or become soft and puffy by shaking or patting; puff up

2. informal to make a mistake in performing (an action, dramatic speech, music, etc)

Usage

What does fluff mean? Fluff is a light, soft mass, such as cotton or a cloud, as in After I shaved my head, the hair that grew back was soft, like fluff.To fluff something means to shake or puff out something, as with pillows. When you fluff your hair, you might shake it out a bit so that it puffs up and looks fluffy.Fluff can also describe something that is of little importance, such as a novel that someone deems fun but not at all serious.Fluff is also a mistake, especially a situation in which an actor forgets their lines. To fluff is to make such a mistake, as in Valerie fluffed her lines during the first scene, but she quickly recovered.Example: When Grace and I were stuffing the pillows we had made, we had fluff flying all over the living room.

Other Word Forms

• fluffer noun
• unfluffed adjective

Etymology

Origin of fluff

1780–90; perhaps blend of flue ² and puff

Example Sentences

Most recent media articles about Trinity are AI-generated fluff while there are thousands about Apple and its products.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

While there’s nothing wrong, per se, with ExpressVPN’s extra bundled goodies, they come down to fluff.

From Salon • Mar. 13, 2026

But Florrie is not just a fun ball of fluff, she has got a job to do: helping young people navigate an increasingly complex world.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

There is something of the fae folk about Mae Martin, at least onscreen — the big blue eyes, the short blond fluff of hair, the nonbinary grace.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 25, 2025

When it’s wet like this, it usually takes the fluff and fairy tale off her, making her seem more ordinary, more like the rest of us, but not today.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson

Related Words

• fuzz
• lint