Definition

The condition of being swollen or inflated, often referring to areas of the body that appear rounder or larger than normal.

Example

After the bee sting, there was noticeable puffiness around her ankle.

Conversation

Have you noticed any puffiness around your eyes lately?

Yeah, I think it's from not getting enough sleep.

I read that allergies can also cause puffiness.

That makes sense; I’ve been sneezing a lot too!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Puffiness → It is formed from "puff" (of uncertain origin, possibly imitative of the sound made when air is expelled) and "-iness" (a suffix meaning the state or quality of). The word "puffiness" refers to the state of being puffed up or swollen.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'puff' which suggests something that is swollen or inflated, and remember that 'puffiness' describes the quality of being puffed up.

Visually Confused Words