snuffy

/ˈsnʌfi/

//ˈsnʌfi// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"snuffy" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“snuffy” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as an adjective. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 2, 2026) - Soiled with snuff.

Corpus desk

Index EN-snuffy · snuffy · English

snuffy · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "S" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for snuffy
PropertyValue
Headwordsnuffy
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈsnʌfi/
Letters6
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “snuffy” sits in English frequency

snuffy falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

snuffy is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anadjective, transcribed /ˈsnʌfi/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 5 senses are on record.

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for snuffy, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From snuff + -y. The correct English form is snuffy, spelled S-N-U-F-F-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    Soiled with snuff.
  2. 2
    Resembling or characteristic of snuff.
  3. 3
    Sulky; angry; vexed.
  4. 4
    Drunk.
  5. 5
    That causes sniffing and nasal irritation due to dust.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how snuffy appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. I must now let you know what sort of a personage this same First President is; you imagine that he is a disagreeable snuffy old fellow
  2. The postchaise contained a snuffy old dowager of seventy, with a maid, her contemporary.

Etymology

From snuff + -y.

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

PlainSpell is rendered directly from structured Wiktionary extracts and open word-frequency lists, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of September 2, 2026. Primary sources: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) and FrequencyWords.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "snuffy"?
"snuffy" is spelled S-N-U-F-F-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈsnʌfi/.
What does "snuffy" mean?
As an adjective, "snuffy" means: Soiled with snuff.
How do you pronounce "snuffy"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "snuffy" is /ˈsnʌfi/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "snuffy"?
From snuff + -y. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list