moisture
Americannoun
-
condensed or diffused liquid, especially water.
moisture in the air.
-
a small quantity of liquid, especially water; enough liquid to moisten.
noun
Other Word Forms
- moistureless adjective
Etymology
Origin of moisture
1325–75; Middle English; moist, -ure; compare Middle French moistour
Explanation
Moisture is the feeling of wetness — what you want in your cupcake but not in your diapers. Moisture is the noun related to the adjective moist, which you might use to describe damp soil, clammy air, or melt-in-your-mouth desserts. Moisture has also been known to promote mold growth and frizz otherwise tame hair, so it doesn't have many fans — other than tropical plants and the very thirsty.
Vocabulary lists containing moisture
Holes
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Words to Know Before You Defrost the Bird
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"Brothers in Hope"
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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.
Leaving the refuge, the vibrant color palette and moisture give way to muted browns and the returning austerity of desert air.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026
During and after frying, the team measured temperature, pressure, volume, texture, moisture, and oil content.
From Science Daily • Apr. 2, 2026
Tule fog forms when heat escapes from the ground on clear, calm nights, and moisture in the air condenses into a low-lying mist.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026
Moisture in the air on the windward side of a mountain is forced to rise where it will cool and condenses, taking the moisture out of it.
From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026
The night air was cool and thick with moisture.
From "The Reader" by Traci Chee
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.
