fluff

1 of 2

noun

ˈfləf 

1

: down entry 7 sense 1

2

: something fluffy

dandelion fluff

3

: something inconsequential

4

: blunder

especially : an actor's lapse of memory

fluff

2 of 2

verb

fluffed; fluffing; fluffs

transitive verb

1

: to make fluffy

fluff the pillows

birds fluffing up their feathers

2

a

: to spoil by a mistake : botch

b

: to deliver badly or forget (one's lines) in a play

intransitive verb

1

: to become fluffy

2

: to make a mistake

especially : to forget or bungle one's lines in a play

Synonyms

Noun

• down
• floss
• fur
• fuzz
• lint
• nap
• pile

Verb

• blunder
• boob [British]
• err
• flub
• foul up
• fumble
• goof (up)
• louse up
• mess (up)
• screw up
• slip up
• stumble
• trip

Examples of fluff in a Sentence

Noun

Her sweater was covered with fluff.

The movie was pure fluff.

Her latest article has the usual fluff about movie stars and gossip.

Verb

The wind fluffed his hair.

The golfer fluffed another shot.

The actor kept fluffing the same line.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Johnson and Evans in particular share a knack for easy-going romantic fluff, having cut their teeth in movies like How to Be Single and What’s Your Number?. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 May 2025

Consumers see through the fluff, and empty promises get called out as greenwashing fast. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

Verb

In the bright Florida sky, a few contrails fluffed into clouds. —Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 5 May 2025

To make matters worse, James fluffed an inbounds pass to Dončić to turn the ball over with just 33 seconds remaining. —Matias Grez, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

perhaps blend of flue (fluff) and puff

First Known Use

Noun

1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1835, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for fluff

• buff
• cuff
• duff
• gruff
• hough
• huff
• luff
• muff
• puff
• rough
• ruff
• scruff

Kids Definition

fluff

1 of 2 noun

ˈfləf 

1

: nap entry 3, down

2

: something fluffy

fluff

2 of 2 verb

: to make or become fluffy