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Glite Dictionary
👩 A mother 👗 Motherly style
mumsy

mumsy

1 8.1
Gentle and old-fashioned like a mother
  • adjective
  • /ˈmʌm.zi/
  • Archaic
translation icon : maternal
  • Her style is considered mumsy, with floral prints and cardigans that remind everyone of their mothers.

Examples

  • I never wanted to be mumsy or she's that mummy Blogger now.

  • Despite her attempts to dress younger, her mumsy habits of baking and knitting still show through.

  • The decor in her living room feels mumsy, with lace doilies and antique furniture everywhere.

Synonyms

motherly
vsmumsy
16 2.3

Showing warm, gentle care like a parent

is more old-fashioned and unfashionable in caring style rather than just warm support
matronly
vsmumsy
3 6.8

Has the calm, caring manner of an older dignified woman

is more old-fashioned and unfashionable in caring style rather than the dignified look

Antonyms

modern
∞ 1.4

Relating to the present time and new ways of doing things

fashionable
85 2.6

Popular now because it follows the current style

stylish
85 2.0

Clothes or rooms that look fashionable and attractive

How Motherly

motherly
16 2.3
mumsy
  • Archaic
1 8.1
parental
148 3.4

Surface Forms

mumsy positive

Morphology

mumsy = mum (semi-transparent) = mum + sy

The adjective is clearly formed from 'mum' with an adjectival '-y/-sy' so the core 'mother-like' meaning is derivable, but the specifically 'old-fashioned/unfashionable' evaluative nuance is not strictly predictable.

Etymology

The word mumsy comes from the informal mum ('mother') plus a soft ending -sy, so it describes someone who is 'mother-like' in a slightly old-fashioned, fussy way.