What does windiness mean?
Windiness is a noun naming the quality or state of being windy. It is used especially in weather reports, where it describes the presence of strong or persistent wind, and in descriptions of exposed places such as coasts, hills, and open plains. The word can also be used figuratively for talk that is excessively long, verbose, or lacking substance, although this sense often carries a mildly dismissive tone. Windiness is normally treated as an uncountable noun, so writers generally say “the windiness of the day” rather than referring to multiple “windinesses.” The word is useful because it allows the quality of windy conditions to be treated as a subject in its own right, while retaining a metaphorical connection to empty or inflated speech.
nounThe quality or state of being windy. Figuratively, it can refer to talk that is excessively long, verbose, or lacking substance.
- The quality or state of being windy.
- Excessive, verbose, or insubstantial talk.
"The forecast warned of increasing windiness along the coast."
"The windiness made it difficult to hear the speakers on the outdoor stage."
"His explanation was dismissed as little more than windiness."
Windiness is normally used as an uncountable noun.
"The severity of the windiness differed across the island."
A windy day has windiness; a windy speech may have it too.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does windiness come from?
Windiness was formed in English by adding the suffix “-iness” to “wind.” Its root appears in Old English “wind” and in related words such as “windy,” “windmill,” and “windward.” The English root belongs to the Germanic family and has close parallels in German “Wind” and Dutch “wind.”
Related word forms
How windiness is actually used
The literal sense is common in neutral contexts, especially weather forecasts and descriptions of coastal or exposed locations. The figurative sense is less common and often implies that speech is unnecessarily long or evasive.
Easily confused with windiness
“Windiness” is the noun naming the quality of being windy, while “windy” is the adjective describing something exposed to or characterized by wind.
“Windiness” concerns the presence or force of wind, whereas “winding” describes a path or route that curves and twists.