paddy

noun (1)
pad·​dy | \ ˈpa-dē How to pronounce paddy (audio) \
variants: or less commonly padi
plural paddies also padis

Definition of paddy

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : rice especially : threshed unmilled rice
2 : wet land in which rice is grown

Paddy

noun (2)
Pad·​dy | \ ˈpa-dē How to pronounce Paddy (audio) \
plural Paddies

Definition of Paddy (Entry 2 of 2)

slang, often disparaging + offensive

Examples of paddy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Tranquil rice paddies surround Dao Tu but its centre is bustling and frantic, as suppliers try to keep up with the surge in demand in the run-up to the festival. 1843, "Vietnam’s ghosts are hungry for iPhones," 22 Aug. 2019 Farming can also result in a release of carbon as CO2, nitrous oxide from fertilizer, and methane from (primarily) livestock and rice paddies. Scott K. Johnson, Ars Technica, "New IPCC report shows land use is part of solution to climate change," 8 Aug. 2019 Those who sheltered in the paddies crept back by night. New York Times, "The Schoolteacher and the Genocide," 8 Aug. 2019 Practice landscape shots on rippling rice paddies and the soaring Himalaya, take portraits of people in traditional Bhutanese dress, and capture the spirit of a masked folk dance. National Geographic, "Bhutan High School Expedition," 12 June 2019 Men and women spent almost the same time on agricultural labour—the former spent 10 hours ploughing and preparing the land while the latter spent roughly nine hours planting and transplanting paddy seedlings. Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz India, "Between domestic chores and agricultural work, rural Indian women have no time for child-rearing," 10 July 2019 This week’s gallery includes a man playing in the mud during paddy plantation day in Nepal, gay pride parade-goers kissing in front of counter-protesters in New York and Fourth of July celebrations in Washington, Miami. Washington Post, "PHOTO GALLERY: A selection of pictures from the past week," 6 July 2019 Four hours later, a police paddy-wagon pulled up and he was arrested, along with 22 others. Kyra Haas, azcentral, "Phoenix's LGBTQ spaces faced raids 'policing morals' of city. The Stonewall riots helped change that," 28 June 2019 Khin Aye, a farmer in the Ayeyarwady region, has 14 acres of paddy fields, which can be seen through the back window of his farmhouse. The Economist, "Myanmar’s countryside is emptying and its cities bursting," 11 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'paddy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of paddy

Noun (1)

1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1714, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for paddy

Noun (1)

Malay padi

Noun (2)

from Paddy, Hiberno-English nickname for Patrick

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for paddy

paddy

noun

English Language Learners Definition of paddy

: a wet field where rice is grown

paddy

noun
pad·​dy | \ ˈpa-dē How to pronounce paddy (audio) \
plural paddies

Kids Definition of paddy

: wet land in which rice is grown

Keep scrolling for more