- informal a very short time: wait a jiffy
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
jif•fy /ˈdʒɪfi/USA pronunciation also jiff /dʒɪf/USA pronunciation
n. [countable* usually singular], pl. jif•fies also jiffs. [Informal.]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Informal Termsa very short time;
moment;
instant:to get dressed in a jiffy.
jif•fy
( jif′ē),USA pronunciation n., pl. -fies. [Informal.]
- Informal Termsa very short time;
moment:to get dressed in a jiffy.
- origin, originally uncertain 1770–80
- instant, flash, second, trice.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
jiffy /ˈdʒɪfɪ/, jiff /dʒɪf/ n ( pl jiffies, jiffs)
'jiffy' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):