dotty

¹ American  

[dot-ee] / ˈdɒt i /

adjective

Informal.

dottier, dottiest

1. crazy or eccentric.

2. feeble or unsteady in gait.

3. very enthusiastic or infatuated (usually followed by about orover ).

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dotty ² American  

[dot-ee] / ˈdɒt i /

adjective

dottier, dottiest

1. marked with dots; dotted.

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dotty British  

/ ˈdɒtɪ /

adjective

1. slang feeble-minded; slightly crazy

2. slang (foll by about) extremely fond (of)

3. marked with dots

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Other Word Forms

• dottiness
  noun
• dottily
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of dotty¹

1805–15; perhaps dott(ard) variant of dotard + -y ¹

Origin of dotty²

First recorded in 1805–15; dot ¹ + -y ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dotty dottier dottiest

But Hall and Faris, now playing the dotty mothers of the next generation of victims, are hilarious, romping about like their Brenda and Cindy have clearly been knocked on the head too often.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026

Lise has run-ins with other passengers aboard her flight and, once at her destination, befriends a bumbling, dotty widow.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026

Then, in 2024, he had to have the dotty idea to throw himself into contention for the vice presidency.

From Slate ● Jan. 10, 2026

"So far I've played this dotty little Welsh woman. They'll just see me as a little bit clueless," local government officer Fiona, 62, from Swansea, admitted.

From BBC ● Jan. 6, 2026

"I won't be able to talk to you much once we're in the Dining-Room. If I do, people will think I'm dotty and talking to myself."

From "The Witches" by Roald Dahl

He has, however, replaced it with one that is, if anything, even dottier.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 10, 2011

The whole idea – driven, apparently, by the need to get more southern bums on northern seats to fulfil contract pledges – couldn't be dottier.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 24, 2010

When Heartbreak House was presented last week under Welles's direction and with himself in the leading role of 88-year-old Captain Shotover, even the dottiest Mercury fan could not help having qualms.

From Time Magazine Archive