wispy

Wispy is an adjective used to describe something thin, fine, and delicate in appearance or texture. It conveys lightness and fragility, often with an airy, feathery quality. The term is commonly applied to hair that is fine and tenuous, to clouds that appear threadlike or feathered, or to smoke, mist, or threads that seem slender and uneven rather than solid.

It derives from wisp, meaning a small bundle or tuft, and has long been used to describe things that are light or indistinct. The sense of delicate, slender strands is central to most modern uses.

In meteorology, wispy clouds refer to high-altitude, thin, streaky formations such as cirrus clouds, which have a hairlike or featherlike appearance. Their presence can indicate approaching weather changes, though they do not predict specific outcomes.

In everyday description, wispy is used for hair that is fine and feathery; for clouds, smoke, or mist that trails in delicate threads; and for fabrics or light, airy textures in fashion and design. The term also appears in literary and artistic contexts to evoke a sense of ethereal lightness or fragility in images, sound, or mood.