Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

feathery

American  
[feth-uh-ree] / ˈfɛð ə ri /

adjective

  1. clothed or covered with feathers.

  2. resembling feathers; light; airy; unsubstantial.

    feathery clouds.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of feathery

First recorded in 1570–80; feather + -y 1

Explanation

Things that are soft, light, and downy can be described as feathery. After you brush your dog, you'll find his feathery fur all over the house. Feathery things, from your sister's feathery hairdo to the feathery branches of the willow tree in your yard, look or feel like feathers. You can use this adjective for anything that resembles the light, fluffy down of a baby bird or the graceful plumage of a swan. Feathery comes from feather and its root meaning "to fly."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing feathery

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.

See Examples For:

Inside the machine, which looked like a large blender with a metal doughnut inside, blue and orange lights vibrated within glass tubes, while feathery electricity danced out the top.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026

Because they cannot imagine an autumn in which they don't pause to admire the ginkgo at its finest, swathed in a feathery coat of gold.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

Asics’ new Metaspeed Ray model, for instance, weighs in at a feathery 4.55 ounces.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 19, 2026

My friend goes for Netflix’s original seasonal blockbuster, “Fireplace For Your Home,” which shows nothing but a burning wonder slowly fading to glowing coals and feathery ash.

From Salon ● Dec. 18, 2025

All three of them bowed low to him, and after regarding them imperi-ously for a moment, Buckbeak bent his scaly front knees and allowed Hermione to rush forward and stroke his feathery neck.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Just like flashcards, but way more fun

Don't take our word for it. Leave the boring studying behind and join VocabTrainer today. You'll learn even faster and never look back.

Take me to Vocabulary.com