putty

¹ American  

[puht-ee] / ˈpʌt i /

noun

putties plural

1. a compound of whiting and linseed oil, of a doughlike consistency when fresh, used to secure windowpanes, patch woodwork defects, etc.

2. any of various other compounds used for similar purposes.

3. any of various substances for sealing the joints of tubes or pipes, composed of linseed oil with red lead, white lead, iron oxide, etc.

4. a creamy mixture of lime and water, partially dried and mixed with sand and plaster of Paris to make a finish plaster coat.

5. putty powder.

6. any person or thing easily molded, influenced, etc..

   We were putty in his hands.

7. light brownish- or yellowish-gray.

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verb (used with object)

putties, present (3rd person singular) puttied, past participle, past puttying present participle

1. to secure, cover, etc., with putty.

idioms

1. up to putty, worthless or useless.

putty ² American  

[puht-ee] / ˈpʌt i /

noun

putties plural

1. puttee.

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putty British  

/ ˈpʌtɪ /

noun

1. a stiff paste made of whiting and linseed oil that is used to fix glass panes into frames and to fill cracks or holes in woodwork, etc

2. any substance with a similar consistency, function, or appearance

3. a mixture of lime and water with sand or plaster of Paris used on plaster as a finishing coat

4. ( as modifier )

   a putty knife

5. See putty powder

6. a person who is easily influenced or persuaded

   he's putty in her hands

7. 1. a colour varying from a greyish-yellow to a greyish-brown or brownish-grey

   2. ( as adjective )

      putty-coloured

8. informal worthless or useless

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verb

1. (tr) to fix, fill, or coat with putty

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unputtied
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• putties
  plural

Participles

• puttying
  present
• puttied
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• putty
  simple
• putties
  simple
• have puttied
  perfect
• has puttied
  perfect
• am puttying
  progressive
• are puttying
  progressive
• is puttying
  progressive
• have been puttying
  perfect progressive
• has been puttying
  perfect progressive

Past

• puttied
  simple
• had puttied
  perfect
• was puttying
  progressive
• were puttying
  progressive
• had been puttying
  perfect progressive

Future

• will putty
  simple
• will have puttied
  perfect
• will be puttying
  progressive
• will have been puttying
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of putty

First recorded in 1625–35, putty is from the French word potée, literally, (something) potted. See pot ¹, -ee

Explanation

Putty is the clay-like substance you can use to fill holes in a wall before painting it, or to secure a piece of glass in a window frame. Putty comes in different colors and consistencies, but it's generally a very soft doughy material that can fit it small or awkward spaces and hardens after a certain amount of time. Before painting a wall, you might want to putty any holes or cracks, using a putty knife. After the putty dries, you can sand it smooth. The word comes from the French potée, "polishing powder."

Example Sentences

With a few tubes of paint, brushes and putty knives you might find at your local hardware store, fearless creation is something anybody can do.

From Salon • May 2, 2026

The business of the North American Toy Fair, an annual showcase of the latest in silly putty, monster trucks and board games, is fun.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2025

Tucked inside Aardman’s putty preoccupations is a potent philosophical statement about the irreplaceable quality of the human touch.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2024

You can DIY a short-term solution for a leak with epoxy putty, pipe clamps or good old-fashioned duct-tape, but that should be a stopgap measure only.

From Seattle Times • May 15, 2024

Right before lunch I go to the boys’ room at school and mush the putty through my hair until it stands on end all over my head.

From "Invisible Inkling" by Emily Jenkins

Related Words

• docile
• flexible
• limber
• malleable
• manageable
• pliant
• spongy
• supple