What does stiffy mean?
Stiffy is an informal noun with several markedly different meanings. Its most common English sense is an annoying, difficult, or unhelpful person: “Don't be a stiffy and leave the job to someone else.” Australian English also uses stiffy for a strong alcoholic drink, a sense connected with the older expression stiff drink. In vulgar slang, it can refer to an erection. The word therefore carries a distinctly informal character and should be used with care, especially in formal writing or the sexual sense. Its variety makes it memorable: the same word can describe an objectionable person, a potent drink, or a bodily reaction. In general conversation, the first meaning is the safest and most readily understood, while the drink is especially associated with Australian usage.
nounAn annoying, difficult, or unhelpful person. In Australian English, it can also mean a strong alcoholic drink, while in vulgar slang it can mean an erection.
- An annoying, difficult, or unhelpful person.
- A strong alcoholic drink, especially in Australian English.
- An erection, in vulgar slang.
"Don't be a stiffy and leave the task until the last minute."
"That colleague can be a real stiffy when deadlines pile up."
"In Australian slang, he ordered two stiffies before dinner."
"The awkward moment left him with a noticeable stiffy."
The usual plural in all senses; the singular form is informal.
"The two friends were complete stiffies when they delayed helping with the move."
Stiffy can mean an irritating person, a strong drink, or—less politely—an erection: a small word with several very different company.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stiffy come from?
Stiffy was formed by adding the suffix -y to stiff. The adjective stiff comes through Middle English from Old English stiff, where it referred to something rigid, firm, or difficult. Its use for a strong alcoholic drink reflects the established expression stiff drink, meaning a drink of high alcoholic strength.
Related word forms
How stiffy is actually used
The sense meaning an annoying person is informal and mildly disparaging. The drink is especially common in Australian English. The sexual sense is vulgar and unsuitable for formal or sensitive contexts.