What does fuzz mean?
Fuzz refers to a mass of fine, soft fibers — the delicate down that coats a peach, the fluff that gathers in pockets, or the nap on a well-worn sweater. In everyday language, the word is casual and tactile, evoking softness and slight neglect, as when we speak of clearing away the fuzz collecting under furniture. A separate colloquial sense, 'the fuzz,' names the police; this slang flourished in 1960s and 1970s America and retains a retro, countercultural flavor today. Its adjective derivative, fuzzy, extends the idea metaphorically to describe anything blurred, indistinct, or warmly imprecise, from fuzzy logic to fuzzy recollections. Simple, familiar, and versatile, fuzz bridges physical texture and cultural slang with ease. Whether describing a baby's first hair or a lighthearted jab at law enforcement, the word carries an approachable informality that has kept it firmly embedded in ordinary English speech.
Fine, light, fluffy fibers or filaments, such as those found on skin, fruit, or fabric.
"There was a thin layer of fuzz on the old blanket."
Informal register.
(Slang) The police.
"Watch out — here comes the fuzz!"
Dated colloquialism from mid-20th-century America.
Rarely used in plural; fuzz typically appears as a singular mass term.
"Various fuzzes collected along the hem of the coat."
The word 'the fuzz' as slang for police likely arose from American counterculture of the 1960s, though some trace it to British roots — either way, officers were not amused.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of fuzz
Fuzz is attested in English from around the late 17th century, meaning fine, light fibers or down. Its precise origin is uncertain, though it may relate to Dutch voos ('coarse fiber, flock') or similar Low German terms for fibrous material. The slang use of 'the fuzz' for police emerged later, becoming prominent in mid-20th-century American usage; its exact derivation remains debated.
Related word forms
How fuzz is actually used
In its literal sense, fuzz is informal but broadly used. The slang sense 'the fuzz' is dated and colloquial, strongly associated with 1960s–70s American usage; it carries a mildly irreverent connotation. As an adjective form, 'fuzzy' describes both texture and, figuratively, vague or indistinct things (e.g., fuzzy logic, fuzzy memories).
Easily confused with fuzz
Fizz refers to the bubbles or effervescence in a carbonated drink, while fuzz refers to fine fibers or fluff (or slang for police).