What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
floury
Example
The dough should be soft and slightly floury to the touch. [floury: adjective]
Example
The chicken was fried until it had a crispy, floury coating. [floury: adjective]
Example
The car was covered in a layer of floury dust from the dirt road. [floury: adjective]
powdery
Example
The snow was powdery and perfect for skiing. [powdery: adjective]
Example
She applied a light layer of powdery blush to her cheeks. [powdery: adjective]
Example
The bookshelf was covered in a layer of powdery dust. [powdery: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Powdery is more commonly used than floury in everyday language. Powdery is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while floury is less common and refers to a more specific texture related to flour.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between floury and powdery?
Both floury and powdery are relatively informal words, but powdery may be slightly more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.