airy-fairy

adjective

ˈer-ē-ˈfer-ē How to pronounce airy-fairy (audio)
1
chiefly British : delicate, fairylike
2
chiefly British : lacking substance or purpose : not practical
in … an airy-fairy, unserious, insufficiently careful fashion—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of airy-fairy was in 1837

Dictionary Entries Near airy-fairy

Airy disk

airy-fairy

aischrolatreia

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Cite this Entry

“Airy-fairy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airy-fairy. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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