Standard Lemma guide

floaty

adj · noun · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈfləʊti/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˈfloʊti/
  • General-American: [-ɾi]
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -əʊti

1

adj

Meaning 1

Tending to float on a liquid or to rise in air or a gas; buoyant.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Tending to float on a liquid or to rise in air or a gas; buoyant.

Of a ship: having a shallow draft (the depth from the waterline to the bottom of a vessel's hull), and thus drawing less (that is, floating higher in) water.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Of music: light and relaxing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adj

Meaning 4

Of an object: light and flimsy or soft; specifically, of a dress: lightweight, so as to rise away from the body when the wearer is moving.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gossamer

Antonyms: none provided

5

adj

Meaning 5

Of a person: feeling calm, dreamy, happy, etc., as if floating in the air.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

adj

Meaning 6

Of speech or writing: overly complicated or elaborate; flowery, grandiloquent.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

A particle of food, etc., found floating in liquid.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

A lilo (inflatable air mattress) or similar object that floats on water and can be lain or sat on.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

Synonym of armband (“one of a pair of inflatable plastic bands, normally worn on the upper arms, to help the wearer (often a child) float in water and learn to swim”).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, in-plural, informal

Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports, swimming

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: armfloat, water wing, armband

Antonyms: none provided

10

adjective satellite

Meaning 10

tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or gas

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • buoyant balloons
  • buoyant balsawood boats
  • a floaty scarf

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: buoyant

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From float (noun or verb) + -y (suffix meaning ‘inclined to’ forming adjectives). Compare Middle English floti, floty (“of a place: well supplied with water”).

From float (noun) + -y (suffix forming diminutive nouns).

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: kelluva — tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or a gas — see also buoyant
  • Old Tupi: bebuî — tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or a gas — see also buoyant
  • Portuguese: flutuante — tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or a gas — see also buoyant
  • Swedish: flytande — tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or a gas — see also buoyant
  • Finnish: leijuva — of a person: feeling calm, dreamy, etc., as if floating through the air
  • Finnish: sattuma — particle of food, etc., found floating in liquid
  • Finnish: kelluke — object that floats on water and can be lain or sat on
  • Swedish: flytring — object that floats on water and can be lain or sat on