stuffy
UK: ˈstʌfi | US: ˈstʌfi
adj. lacking fresh air; poorly ventilated
adj. (of a person or attitude) conventional, dull, or pompous
The word "stuffy" combines "stuff," derived from Old French "estoffe" (material or fabric), with the suffix "-y," which forms adjectives implying "full of" or "characterized by." Originally, "stuffy" described literal stuffiness (e.g., a room filled with dense air or material). By the 19th century, it metaphorically extended to describe people or attitudes perceived as rigid or overly formal, evoking the sensation of being "closed off" like an unventilated space.
The lecture hall felt stuffy after hours with no windows open.
She found his stuffy demeanor off-putting at the casual gathering.
Open a window—it’s too stuffy in here!
The club’s stuffy rules discouraged younger members from joining.
His stuffy insistence on protocol made the meeting tedious.