Definition

Having a covering of mold or being affected by mold, often resulting in a musty smell or appearance.

Example

The moldy bread had to be thrown away because it was no longer safe to eat.

Comparatives & Superlatives

Conversation

I found some bread in the back of the pantry, and it looks a bit moldy.

Oh no! You should definitely throw that away.

Yeah, I don't want to risk getting sick from moldy food.

Good call! It’s always better to be safe.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Moldy → It is formed from "mold" (from Old English *mold*, meaning earth or soil, which later came to refer to a fungal growth) and "-y" (a suffix used to form adjectives indicating a characteristic). The word "moldy" describes something that has the characteristic of being covered with mold, typically due to dampness.

Memory Tip

Think of 'mold' as something that grows in damp earth, and the '-y' indicates that it has that characteristic. So, when something is moldy, it means it has that earthy, fungal growth.

Visually Confused Words