jiffy

noun

jif·​fy ˈji-fē 

plural jiffies

informal

: a very short period of time : moment, instant sense 1

ready in a jiffy

Their troubles were all over in a jiffy.

—Roald Dahl

A small restaurant offering good Vietnamese food in a jiffy.

—New Times (Phoenix, Arizona)

Synonyms

• beat
• eyeblink
• flash
• heartbeat
• instant
• jiff
• minute
• moment
• nanosecond
• New York minute
• second
• shake
• split second
• trice
• twinkle
• twinkling
• wink

Examples of jiffy in a Sentence

I'll be there in a jiffy.

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead, open jars in a jiffy with an inexpensive find from OXO. —Erica Lamberg, Fox News, 6 Jan. 2025

Unlike a trash can, which can be emptied in a jiffy, garbage disposal cleaning needs to be more than running it for 30 seconds with hot water. —Julia Mitchem, Architectural Digest, 30 Dec. 2024

Here, a range of cozy options that ship out in a jiffy via Prime delivery, with the option to tack on a duvet cover separately. —Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 7 Dec. 2024

End your relaxed evening by hitting up upscale sports bar Upper Deck Ale & Sports Grill, a popular spot that features a relaxed outdoor bar where fancy (and affordable) martinis are mixed in a jiffy. —Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1779, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

jiffy

noun

jif·​fy ˈjif-ē 

plural jiffies

informal

: moment sense 1, instant

in a jiffy