Iffy Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Synonyms iffy American [if-ee] / ˈɪf i /

adjective

Informal. iffier, iffiest

1. full of unresolved points or questions.

   an iffy situation.

   Synonyms: speculative, uncertain, unsettled, doubtful

2. doubtful; questionable.

   An early decision on this is iffy.

iffy British / ˈɪfɪ /

adjective

1. informal uncertain or subject to contingency

   this scheme sounds a bit iffy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

• iffiness noun

Etymology

Origin of iffy

First recorded in 1915–20; if + -y 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That could make any major new capital projects look iffy, at least until oil prices improve.

From Barron's

But banking on a revival of its energy industry is an iffy proposition.

From Barron's

Buffalo has its problems: iffy defense, offensive inconsistency, and turnovers, but QB Josh Allen remains a multithreat headache and a healthy Bills team on a chilly January afternoon is a menace.

From The Wall Street Journal

One reason for the caution on holiday hiring: Americans’ willingness to spend during the holidays is looking iffy.

From The Wall Street Journal

In the final month of the season, remember, the Dodgers entertained a flurry of ideas about how to best combine a talented rotation and an iffy bullpen into an effective October staff.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.