Drafty

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈdɹɑːfti/

Definitions

1. Characterized by the presence of uninvited cold air flowing through cracks and openings in a space
2. Subject to the movement of cool air currents because of poor insulation or gaps in a structure
3. Likely to allow the flow of air through openings causing a chilly environment

Etymology: "Drafty" is an ordinary formation: it adds the suffix "-y", meaning "characterized by" or "full of", to "draft," which in this sense means a current of air moving through a room. The earlier spelling was "draughty," and the older word "draught" was already used for a current of air in English. Draught and draft are two spellings of one word, and the American form "draft" eventually won out for this sense while the British "draughty" survived in its original spelling. The word's core sense is therefore literal and physical: a room with too many gaps and too little insulation lets cold air pour in from the floor, windows and doors. The adjective describes the feeling of that moving air rather than any abstract quality, which is why it is used most often about old houses, drafty corridors and poorly sealed windows.

Synonyms: chilly, airy, uncomfortable, cool, breezy

Antonyms: warm, cozy, stuffy, insulated, sealed