noun
dowd
dowd
noun
1
A person, especially a woman, who dresses in a dull, unfashionable, or frumpy way.
"She used to be a dowd, but her new stylist completely transformed her look."
How to Use Dowd
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who looks frumpy or old-fashioned rather than stylish.
Common mistake
Rare as a standalone noun today — most people only know the adjective form "dowdy."
Easily confused with
Word Forms
dowds plural, Dowds plural
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She used to be a _____, but her new stylist completely transformed her look.
Etymology
A back-formation from the adjective "dowdy."