taffy

noun

taf·​fy ˈta-fē How to pronounce taffy (audio)
plural taffies
1
: a boiled candy usually of sugar, molasses or corn syrup, butter, and often vinegar and vanilla that is pulled until porous and glossy
2
: insincere flattery

Examples of taffy in a Sentence

the magazine's profiles of showbiz celebrities tend to be pure taffy
Recent Examples on the Web In a beautiful taffy pink color, this limited-edition Dutch oven was designed with ceramist and illustrator Laura Chautin. Amanda Ogle, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2024 Kermit's Key Lime Shoppe has been a Key West mainstay for decades and offers everything from Key lime pie and homemade taffy to Key lime mango chutney and citrus salsa. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 29 Nov. 2023 Halloween Countdown Calendar The countdown calendar mimics the beloved advent calendar by including 13 doors with marshmallows, sour pumpkin candies, caramels, candy corn taffies, candy corn gummies, lollipops, and cookies hiding inside. Lily Gray, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2023 This countdown to spooky season boasts 13 doors all filled with sweet surprises, including candy pumpkins, caramels, taffy, gummies, candy corn, and seasonal cookies. Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 31 Aug. 2023 The voice bent like taffy, or Silly Putty. Incidentally, Devieilhe is Madame Pichon. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 27 Aug. 2023 For dessert, head straight to Jenkinson’s Sweet Shop, which has been making confections like candy apples, fudge, and taffy since the early 20th century. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 28 July 2023 Whipping the taffy is said to result in a softer taffy, more delectable than pulled taffy. Kolbie Peterson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 25 Dec. 2022 Anosov discovered that both chaos and stability arise automatically in a geodesic flow because its trajectories converge and diverge like lines drawn on a piece of taffy as it is squeezed together and stretched out. Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 15 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'taffy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

circa 1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of taffy was circa 1817

Dictionary Entries Near taffy

Cite this Entry

“Taffy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/taffy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

taffy

noun
taf·​fy ˈtaf-ē How to pronounce taffy (audio)
plural taffies
: a candy usually of molasses or brown sugar boiled and pulled until soft and chewy

More from Merriam-Webster on taffy

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