fluff

[fluhf]

noun

1. light, downy particles, as of cotton.

2. a soft, light, downy mass.

   a fluff of summer clouds.

3. something of no consequence.

   The book is pure fluff, but fun to read.

4. an error or blunder, especially an actor's memory lapse in the delivery of lines.

verb (used with object)

1. to make into fluff; shake or puff out (feathers, hair, etc.) into a fluffy mass (often followed byup ).

   to fluff up the sofa pillows.

2. to make a mistake in.

   The leading man fluffed his lines.

verb (used without object)

1. to become fluffy; move, float, or settle down like fluff.

2. to make a mistake, especially in the delivery of lines by a performer; blunder.

fluff

/ flʌf /

noun

1. soft light particles, such as the down or nap of cotton or wool

2. any light downy substance

3. an object, matter, etc, of little importance; trifle

4. informal,  a mistake, esp in speaking or reading lines or performing music

5. informal,  a young woman (esp in the phrase a bit of fluff )

verb

1. to make or become soft and puffy by shaking or patting; puff up

2. informal,  to make a mistake in performing (an action, dramatic speech, music, etc)

Other Word Forms

• fluffer noun
• unfluffed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fluff¹

1780–90; perhaps blend of flue ² and puff

Word History and Origins

Origin of fluff¹

C18: perhaps from _flue ²

Example Sentences

There is something of the fae folk about Mae Martin, at least onscreen — the big blue eyes, the short blond fluff of hair, the nonbinary grace.

From Los Angeles Times

Even before her recent ascension to CEO status, she was not a mere housewife, fluffing pillows and waiting faithfully for her husband’s return.

From Salon

He won one of his 16 Tests against the Aussies, and fluffed his lines in the 2015 World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

From BBC

Even with all her experience, Holmes said she struggled with the decision about when to euthanize her ailing elderly dog Gemios “a 20-pound fluff ball” who had been in her family for years.

From Los Angeles Times

Even if you think Cool Whip tastes like plastic, chances are it stirs up some kind of memory — summer barbecues, sugary fluff salads, the taste of childhood.

From Salon

Related Words

• fuzz 
• lint 

When To Use

What does fluff mean?

Fluff is a light, soft mass, such as cotton or a cloud, as in After I shaved my head, the hair that grew back was soft, like fluff.To fluff something means to shake or puff out something, as with pillows. When you fluff your hair, you might shake it out a bit so that it puffs up and looks fluffy.Fluff can also describe something that is of little importance, such as a novel that someone deems fun but not at all serious.Fluff is also a mistake, especially a situation in which an actor forgets their lines. To fluff is to make such a mistake, as in Valerie fluffed her lines during the first scene, but she quickly recovered.Example: When Grace and I were stuffing the pillows we had made, we had fluff flying all over the living room.