Fluff

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Fluff

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun and verb

Pronunciation

FLUF  /flʌf/

Definition

As a noun: soft, light fibres or particles; something light and insubstantial; trivial or superficial material. As a verb: to make something soft and full by shaking it; to fail to do something correctly, especially in performance.

Plain meaning

Fluff is the soft, light, airy stuff — the fibres on a blanket, the cotton-like seeds of a dandelion, or, figuratively, lightweight content with no real substance.

Register

Informal to neutral. The physical sense is standard and everyday. The content sense is gently critical. The performance failure sense is informal.