frosty
Americanadjective
-
characterized by or producing frost; freezing; very cold.
frosty weather.
-
consisting of or covered with a frost.
frosty designs on the windows; an avenue of frosty trees.
-
lacking warmth of feeling; unfriendly.
Their frosty greeting puzzled us.
-
resembling frost; white or gray.
a wedding dress of frosty satin.
-
of or characteristic of old age.
a frosty brow.
adjective
-
characterized by frost
a frosty night
-
covered by or decorated with frost
-
lacking warmth or enthusiasm
the new plan had a frosty reception
-
like frost in appearance or colour; hoary
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of frosty
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at frost, -y 1
Explanation
Something that's frosty is covered with pale, icy frost. If you live in Vermont, your car windshield is probably frosty most winter mornings. You can describe the weather as frosty when there's a sharp chill in the air, or you can use the word more literally, to mean "covered in frost," like your frosty front lawn. When a person is frosty, however, she's emotionally cold — haughty, aloof, or even unfriendly. Frosty comes from the Old English fyrstig, "as cold as frost."
Vocabulary lists containing frosty
Chill Out! Synonyms for "Cold"
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White
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Let's Go Caroling, List 1
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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.
The prince has since said he wishes to reconcile with his father, but relations appeared frosty on the eve of the visit.
From Barron's • Jul. 6, 2026
In the frosty air, with their starchy beards and extravagant ear tufts, they looked magisterial.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026
But Hanoi aims to stay on good terms with all global powers through its traditional "bamboo diplomacy" approach, while Tokyo has seen its already frosty relations with Beijing deteriorate markedly in recent months.
From Barron's • May 2, 2026
That will mean a frosty start for some on Friday morning.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
Dozens of bright-blue men, each thirty feet tall with gray frosty hair, were wading through the forests, fishing in the bay, and striding across the mountains.
From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
