What does "jiffy" mean?
A very short, unspecified length of time.
Jiffy
/ˈd͡ʒɪ.fi/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A very short, unspecified length of time.
- Grammar: jiffy is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: instant, blink of an eye, blinks, breath.
- Useful contrasts: ages, eon, eternity.
- Usage evidence: I'll mail you the report in a jiffy, so you won't have to wait long.
How to use "jiffy"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "jiffy" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "jiffy" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "jiffy" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "jiffy" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "jiffy" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "instant" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "jiffy", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A very short, unspecified length of time. colloquial
"I’ll be back in a jiffy."
- 2 Alternative form of Jiffy bag. alt-of, alternative
- 3 a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat) wordnet
- 4 A unit of time defined by the frequency of its basic timer – historically, and by convention, 0.01 of a second, but some computer operating systems use other values.
"The FOR...NEXT loop for TIME increments by STEP 2 (every two jiffies) for two reasons: 1) the printing of 60 jiffies a second is too fast to read, and 2) the printing of each jiffy takes longer than its incrementations; this would delay the loop, so the printing of TIME$ is slower than it should be."
- 5 The length of an alternating current power cycle (1/60 or 1/50 of a second).
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 The time taken for light to travel a specified distance in a vacuum, usually one centimetre (approximately 33.3564 picoseconds), but sometimes one foot or the width of a nucleon.
- 7 Ellipsis of jiffy bag, a padded envelope. UK, abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"I'll mail you the report in a jiffy, so you won't have to wait long."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "jiffy"?
Common synonyms include: instant, blink of an eye, blinks, breath, breathing, clock tick.
How do you use "jiffy" in a sentence?
I'll mail you the report in a jiffy, so you won't have to wait long.
How do you pronounce "jiffy"?
Pronounced /ˈd͡ʒɪ.fi/.
Etymology
Origin unknown; said to have been thieves’ cant for “lightning”. Also formerly written "giffy", to which a connection with gliff has been proposed. As a kind of envelope, a genericization of Jiffy bag.