frothy

American  

[fraw-thee, froth-ee] / ˈfrɔ θi, ˈfrɒθ i /

adjective

frothier, comparative frothiest superlative

1. of, like, or having froth; foamy.

2. unsubstantial; trifling; shallow; empty.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• frothiness
  noun
• frothily
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Adjectives

• frothier
  comparative
• frothiest
  superlative

Etymology

Origin of frothy

First recorded in 1525–35; froth + -y ¹

Explanation

Something frothy is composed of many small air bubbles. You might like your cappuccino frothy but probably not your tap water. If you order a cappuccino at a cafe, you'll get a cup of strong coffee topped with frothy milk, and a cake recipe might instruct you to beat four eggs until they're frothy. In both examples, air bubbles cause a liquid to become foamy and creamy. A frothy person, however, is bubbly in a different way, full of life and excitement. There's often an implication of "insubstantial," or even "silly" when a person or idea is described as frothy.

Example Sentences

Investment in business equipment, for example, could rise at a frothy 14% annual pace in the second quarter of this year, Oxford Economics estimates.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 27, 2026

A frothy white water splash suggests the presence — and momentary absence — of the swimmer now submerged in cool water.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026

Mark Arbeter, president of Arbeter Investments, told MarketWatch that, in his view, this latest milestone reflects just how frothy sentiment has become among individual investors.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 2026

Often they’re sitting on a lump sum and don’t want to commit it all at once to riskier investments like stocks or bonds because markets seem frothy or they fear yields might rise.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

At the back end, its propellers fizzed through the water and left a trail of frothy waves in its wake.

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown