Airy means light, open, and filled with fresh air. An airy room has tall ceilings, big windows, and plenty of space to breathe. When you walk into an airy space, you don't feel cramped or stuffy. Instead, you feel like you can stretch out and relax.

The word also describes things that seem light and delicate, almost weightless. An airy fabric like chiffon floats and moves easily in the breeze. A bakery might advertise airy croissants that are flaky and filled with tiny air pockets. In ballet, a dancer's airy leaps seem to defy gravity, as if they're floating through the air rather than jumping.

Sometimes airy describes something that lacks substance or seriousness. If someone dismisses your concerns with an airy wave of their hand, they're treating your worries as unimportant. An airy explanation might sound pleasant but doesn't really answer your question. When used this way, airy suggests something is too light to be useful, like a paper airplane when you need a real one.