dowdy

UK: /ˈdaʊdi/ US: /ˈdaʊdi/ ,(dou′dē)

Inflections of 'dowdy' (adj):

dowdier

adj comparative

dowdiest

adj superlative

Inflections of 'dowdy' (n): npl: dowdies

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dow•dy¹ /ˈdaʊdi/   adj., -di•er, -di•est. 

1. not stylish;
   drab;
   out-of-date:
   dowdy clothes.

dow•di•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dow•dy¹  (dou′dē), adj., -di•er, -di•est, n., pl. -dies. 
adj. 

1. not stylish;
   drab;
   old-fashioned:
   Why do you always wear those dowdy old dresses?
2. not neat or tidy;
   shabby.

n. 

3. a dowdy woman.

• Middle English doude unattractive woman (of uncertain origin, originally) + -y¹ or -y² 1300–50

dow′di•ly, adv. 
dow′di•ness, n. 
dow′dy•ish, adj. 
dow′dy•ism, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. frumpy.

Antonyms

• 1. fashionable, stylish.

dow•dy²  (dou′dē), n., pl. -dies. 

1. Food See apple pandowdy. 

• short form 1935–40

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dowdy / ˈdaʊdɪ/ adjective ( -dier, -diest)

1. (used esp of a person's appearance or clothes) not stylish or fashionable

noun ( -dies)

1. a person who is considered dowdy

Etymology: 14th Century: dowd (slovenly woman), of unknown origin

ˈdowdily adverb

ˈdowdiness noun

ˈdowdyish adjective