paddy

1 of 2

noun (1)

pad·​dy ˈpa-dē How to pronounce paddy (audio)
variants or less commonly padi
plural paddies also padis
1
: rice
especially : threshed unmilled rice
2
: wet land in which rice is grown

Paddy

2 of 2

noun (2)

Pad·​dy ˈpa-dē How to pronounce Paddy (audio)
plural Paddies
slang, often disparaging + offensive

Examples of paddy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
One of Oshu’s most popular events is an annual festival featuring rice art, made from growing five different varieties of rice to form vast images on the paddies. Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024 And set among rice paddies near Ella, there's a lovely farm hotel, Kaduruketha, which makes a good base for birdwatching walks in the surrounding jungle. The Week Uk, theweek, 1 Sep. 2024 In the Pacific, mats of kelp that breaks free inshore and float in knotted kelp paddies have the same effect as sargassum mats. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 19 Sep. 2024 Instead, target these abundant and hungry pelagic fish by trolling in areas with clear water, and focus on floating structure like sargassum and kelp paddies, oil rigs, and even floating ocean debris. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 19 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for paddy 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Malay padi

Noun (2)

from Paddy, Hiberno-English nickname for Patrick

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1714, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of paddy was in 1623

Dictionary Entries Near paddy

Cite this Entry

“Paddy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paddy. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

paddy

noun
pad·​dy ˈpad-ē How to pronounce paddy (audio)
plural paddies
: wet land in which rice is grown

More from Merriam-Webster on paddy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!