plummy

American  

[pluhm-ee] / ˈplʌm i /

adjective

plummier, plummiest

1. containing or resembling plums.

2. good or desirable.

   a plummy part for a good actress.

3. richly or mellowly resonant.

   a plummy speaking voice.

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plummy British  

/ ˈplʌmɪ /

adjective

1. of, full of, or resembling plums

2. informal (of speech) having a deep tone and a refined and somewhat drawling articulation

3. informal choice; desirable

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Etymology

Origin of plummy

First recorded in 1750–60; plum + -y ¹

Explanation

Something excellent or desirable is plummy, like the plummy seats you scored for a popular Broadway play — right up front where you hear every word of the actors’ plummy, or rich sounding, voices. The adjective plummy is, quite straightforwardly, a way to talk about anything that tastes like a plum. Imagine someone sipping from a glass of wine, describing its plummy notes. In Britain, it's used far more often as an informal way to say "very desirable," like an actor's plummy role in a new movie, or "upper class," like your wealthy cousin's plummy accent. It's also applied to sounds that are rich and full.

Example Sentences

Listen carefully, and you’ll hear the unmistakable plummy tones of George Martin, stating, “They’d like to thank you for a wonderful year,” echoed in unison by all four Beatles.

From Salon • Dec. 23, 2025

“I’ve been a garden-variety political commentator for most of my career,” he said in a plummy Sydney drawl.

From Slate • Mar. 31, 2024

Its exhibition design echoes a Tudor palace, and its tone feels closer to a plummy BBC voice-over than the sleek narration of Hilary Mantel’s “Wolf Hall.”

From New York Times • Oct. 9, 2022

Forget every store-bought version: This is deeply plummy, pleasantly sour, possibly citrusy, with a slight spicy bite.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 14, 2022

“Wish I’d brought a brolly,” she drawled in the plummy, educated tones of the Oxbridge colleges.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein

Related Words

• mellow
• pleasant