frothy
Americanadjective
-
of, like, or having froth; foamy.
-
unsubstantial; trifling; shallow; empty.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of frothy
Explanation
Something frothy is composed of many small air bubbles. You might like your cappuccino frothy but probably not your tap water. If you order a cappuccino at a cafe, you'll get a cup of strong coffee topped with frothy milk, and a cake recipe might instruct you to beat four eggs until they're frothy. In both examples, air bubbles cause a liquid to become foamy and creamy. A frothy person, however, is bubbly in a different way, full of life and excitement. There's often an implication of "insubstantial," or even "silly" when a person or idea is described as frothy.
Vocabulary lists containing frothy
This Week in Words: December 9 - 15, 2017
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Jumbies
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Battle of the Labyrinth
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Frothy markets will bounce again, and we all will wait for the next episode of mad hegemon.
From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026
Frothy coleus, tropical banana trees and vivid begonias are the fun of summer; “too Dubai” is the point.
From Seattle Times • May 28, 2022
Frothy mucus might not sound like the most inviting living space, but for some frogs' offspring it is a lifesaving refuge from drought.
From Scientific American • Oct. 30, 2021
Frothy auctions aren’t common, unfortunately.The number of syndicate partners for innovative early stage deals is small.
From Forbes • Jan. 2, 2012
Frothy brown liquid rose to the top like the whole thing was filling with soda.
From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
