Meaning & use
nappy
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Meanings
nouncountableBritish
A folded absorbent garment fastened around a baby’s bottom to catch urine and feces.
Grammar: British everyday term; the US equivalent is diaper. Use plural for supplies: change nappies.
Patterns
- change a nappy
- disposable nappy
- nappy rash
The baby needed a clean nappy after the long walk.
Pack extra nappies, wipes, and a change of clothes.
adjectivenot comparableoffensive
Having a tight, curled texture; used of hair, but often rude or offensive when aimed at a person.
Grammar: Usually before a noun; because it can demean people, many writers avoid it except in discussion of the term itself.
Patterns
- nappy hair
- nappy texture
- called the hair nappy
Some people use the phrase nappy hair as an insult, so many speakers avoid it.
In a neutral description, say tightly curled rather than nappy.
Word forms
| plural | nappies |
|---|
Common combinations
- change a nappy
- Could you change a nappy while I warm the bottle?
- disposable nappy
- A disposable nappy is convenient for travel.
- nappy rash
- Barrier cream can calm mild nappy rash.
- cloth nappy
- A cloth nappy saves money but adds laundry.
Synonyms and how they differ
- diaper
- The American equivalent for the baby garment; use nappy in British English and diaper in American English.
Commonly confused: nappy or napkin?
nappy vs napkin
A napkin is for wiping the mouth or hands; a nappy is worn by a baby despite the similar first syllable.
Practice
In London, which word fits best: “We’ve run out of ___.”
Choose one answer.
British English uses nappies; diapers is American, napkins are table linen, and nappa is leather or a variant spelling.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “nappy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.