fluff

1 of 2

noun

Synonyms of fluffnext
1
2
: something fluffy
dandelion fluff
3
: something inconsequential
The article was pure fluff about celebrities.
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Thoughtful details include homemade cake and a complimentary half bottle of Franciacorta fizz on arrival, wine fridges, sticky rollers for clothes fluff, and garment steamers. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026 This is the meeting of the messenger planet and the taskmaster, let alone in the zodiac’s most fearless sign, setting the stage for a transit that cuts right through the fluff, forcing truth and directness. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
If your pillows are feeling lackluster between washes, tumble dry them on low with no detergent to fluff them up. Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 28 Apr. 2026 Smooth out any wrinkles on the bedspread, fluff the pillows, and clear off the nightstands of any items that may have accumulated the night before. Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fluff

Word History

Etymology

Noun

perhaps blend of flue (fluff) and puff

First Known Use

Noun

1790, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1875, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fluff was in 1790

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Cite this Entry

“Fluff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fluff. Accessed 5 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

fluff

1 of 2 noun
1
2
: something fluffy

fluff

2 of 2 verb
: to make or become fluffy

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