sandy
1 Americanadjective
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consisting of, containing, or covered with sand
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(esp of hair) reddish-yellow
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resembling sand in texture
Other Word Forms
- sandiness noun
Etymology
Origin of sandy
before 1000; Middle English; Old English sandig. See sand, -y 1
Explanation
Something that looks like sand, feels like sand, or is covered in sand is sandy. A sandy beach is lovely; a sandy bed is just uncomfortable. If your dog tracks sand indoors and spreads it all over the place, you've got a sandy house. If your sister's hair is the brownish color of sand, you can describe it as sandy too. And if you spill your ingredients when you're making a cake, you might realize that sugar and flour both look a little sandy when they're on the floor. Sandy comes from the Old English sandig, "of the nature of sand."
Vocabulary lists containing sandy
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.
Sometimes seasoned simply with salt and pepper, sometimes coated in Shake ’n Bake, that sandy, paprika-tinged breadcrumb mix that crisped into something approximating a crust.
From Salon • Apr. 10, 2026
Inside, the dwelling features a traditional beach cottage aesthetic, with bright white walls, exposed wooden beams, and wood flooring—ideal for preventing any sandy messes after a long day on the beach.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026
Palmer found himself spending time trying to get his expenses cleared through an incompetent bureaucracy, rather than romancing a beautiful girl on a sandy beach.
From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026
Her subject was life itself, but her inspiration ran through the forest, the field, the sandy beach.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026
Up by the houses, three boys jumped and rolled on the sandy hills.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
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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.