downy

American  

[dou-nee] / ˈdaʊ ni /

adjective

• downier,
  comparative
• downiest
  superlative

1. of the nature of or resembling down; fluffy; soft.

2. made of down.

3. covered with down.

4. soft; soothing.

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downy British  

/ ˈdaʊnɪ /

adjective

1. covered with soft fine hair or feathers

2. light, soft, and fluffy

3. made from or filled with down

4. resembling downs; undulating

5. slang sharp-witted; knowing

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• downiness
  noun
• downily
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Adjectives

• downier
  comparative
• downiest
  superlative

Etymology

Origin of downy

First recorded in 1540–50; down ² + -y ¹

Explanation

Things that are downy are very soft and fluffy. Babies are sometimes born with little tufts of downy hair on their heads. A teenage boy who wants to grow a beard will be frustrated by the downy hairs on his chin, and you could also describe the feeling of a peach as downy. When you rip your winter coat, the downy feathers inside might start floating out behind you in a trail wherever you go. These are also known as down, or the soft feathers that typically grow on a young bird — this is the origin, in fact, of downy.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

downy downier downiest

It has been trying to restore the woodlands by introducing downy birch, sessile oak, hazel, willow, aspen and alder as well as endangered tree species such as Arran whitebeam.

From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2025

"Our hypothesis is that these bladder cells also protect against other plant diseases like downy mildew, a fungal disease which severely limits quinoa yields," says Max Moog.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 22, 2023

The Italian government last month allocated a modest one million euros to help grape producers hurt by downy mildew.

From Reuters ● Sep. 15, 2023

Unlike their parents, whose sleek black-and-white feathers seal their skin against the frigid ocean, chicks’ downy plumage isn’t waterproof.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2023

Then the lechuzas, all thirteen of them, vanished into thin air, leaving only downy feathers floating innocuously in the rays of the morning sun.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

You always must have been a precious sight downier than I thought.

From Jack Harkaway's Boy Tinker Among The Turks Book Number Fifteen in the Jack Harkaway Series by Bracebridge Hemyng

Hibermate The interior of this handcrafted sleep mask feels like it's stitched out of the downiest fleece, while the satin exterior slips easily against surfaces so the Hibermate stays put if you toss and turn.

From Time Magazine Archive

In the nest there were a dozen of the daintiest, downiest, little creatures he had ever seen.

From The Magic Speech Flower or Little Luke and His Animal Friends by Melvin Hix

The softest, sweetest, downiest bed in the world can be made with no other materials but those which grow in the forest—if we know how.

From Outdoor Sports and Games by Claude H. Miller

Although not a Yankee, he nevertheless displayed as much "cuteness" under oft-repeated interrogatories as the downiest "down Easter;" feeling what an important bearing his determination would have upon the expected match with Mr. Staunton.

From The Exploits and Triumphs, in Europe, of Paul Morphy, the Chess Champion by Frederick Milnes Edge

Thirteen little chickens, downiest ever seen, And joyous little Top-knot proud as any queen!

From The Nursery, September 1877, Vol. XXII, No. 3 A Monthly Magazine for Youngest Readers by Various