What does jiffy mean?
A jiffy is a very short period of time, comparable to a moment or an instant. The word is informal and conversational rather than formal, and it is especially common in British and North American English. Expressions such as "in a jiffy" and "wait a jiffy" emphasize brevity, sometimes playfully rather than urgently. A speaker might promise to return in a jiffy, while someone waiting for a friend may describe a delay as lasting only a jiffy. Although the expression is more common in speech than in formal writing, it can also appear in humorous prose, dialogue, captions, and explanations intended to sound lively. The word is useful when an event is understood to happen quickly, without assigning an exact measurement to the time involved.
nounA very short period of time; a moment. It is mainly used in informal speech.
- A very short period of time; a moment or brief interval.
"I'll only be gone for a jiffy."
"The results should be ready in a jiffy."
"Give me a jiffy to find the missing key."
The plural is uncommon because the word normally appears in fixed informal expressions such as "in a jiffy."
"He promised to be back in a couple of jiffies."
Need something done in a jiffy? This tiny word promises speed, though usually with a playful lack of urgency.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does jiffy come from?
The origin of "jiffy" is uncertain. The word became established in English in the early 20th century, apparently developing as an informal expression for a brief moment, and no reliable account of its precise origin is generally accepted.
How jiffy is actually used
This is an informal and familiar expression. It is often used in British and North American speech to mean a moment, and it may suggest that a wait is brief but not necessarily that the speaker is in a hurry.
Easily confused with jiffy
A jiffy means a brief period of time, whereas iffy means uncertain or of doubtful reliability.