filmy

American  

[fil-mee] / ˈfɪl mi /

adjective

filmier, filmiest

1. thin and light; fine and gauzy.

   a gown of a filmy material.

2. hazy or misty; glazed.

   filmy eyes.

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filmy British  

/ ˈfɪlmɪ /

adjective

1. composed of or resembling film; transparent or gauzy

2. covered with or as if with a film; hazy; blurred

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Other Word Forms

• filminess
  noun
• filmily
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of filmy

First recorded in 1595–1605; film + -y ¹

Explanation

Something that's filmy is light and translucent. Filmy white curtains are especially pretty when the sun shines through them and they blow in the breeze. The adjective filmy often describes fabric that you can almost see through, like a filmy dress you wear to the prom. A filmy layer of light might rest on the surface of water, and your old dog might have filmy eyes. In all of these examples, the filmy thing is nearly as thin as a film or membrane: the word stems from the Old English filmen, "membrane or thin skin."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

filmy filmier filmiest

Curiously, the style game of Punjabi musicians - from hip-hop, R&B, bhangra pop, fusion, Punjabi rap, reggae or filmy music - has also remained rooted and androgynous, instead of being hyper masculine.

From BBC ● May 31, 2025

For decades, researchers have assumed that the inevitable filmy buildup on electrodes inside rechargeable batteries is the driver of performance loss.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 28, 2023

The runway featured a new highly bleached denim, a series of filmy, ruched dresses, and a creative take on sweaters, with long sleeves worn tied around the neck like a scarf.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 10, 2023

Dressed in a filmy floral-print shirt and smartly tailored trousers, he discussed Frank Sinatra, great hair and the death of England’s queen.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2022

The man was filmy, and staring through him at the screen was like looking through a dense fog.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland

The lower sleeves are golden, a line of white at the wrist, and a filmier one within the bodice.

From Holbein by Fortescue, Beatrice

Our normal waking consciousness is but one special type of consciousness, whilst all about it, parted from it by the filmiest of screens, there lie potential forms of consciousness entirely different.

From Time Magazine Archive

Distant mountains, with their allurements enhanced by the filmiest of purple veils.

From Mystery Ranch by Chapman, Arthur

Weave, weave, weave,      The tiniest thread will do;      The filmiest thread from a spider's bed      Is stout enough for you.

From Christian's Mistake by Craik, Dinah Maria Mulock

She was dressed all in white—white ribbons, white sash, white socks and shoes, the softest, filmiest white cobweb dress.

From Maida's Little Shop by Gillmore, Inez Haynes

She scampered up-stairs to bring down her filmiest tea-cloth.

From Main Street by Lewis, Sinclair