Clumsy
/ˈklʌmzi/
adjectiveBeginner📊CommonPhysical Action
1 meaning1 question
Definitions
1
Awkward and ungraceful in movement or handling things.
/ˈklʌmzi/
adjectivenegativeBeginner
Physical Action
Lacking grace or skill in movement or handling things.
He was so clumsy, he knocked over a vase.
💡 Simply: Like a baby giraffe learning to walk – all wobbly and not very graceful!
👶 For kids: Like bumping into things a lot!
More Examples
2
Her clumsy movements made it difficult to help her.
How It's Used
Everyday Life
"The clumsy waiter tripped and spilled the wine."
Sports
"His clumsy attempt to catch the ball resulted in a dropped catch."
Originating from Middle English 'clums', meaning 'awkward' or 'unskilled,' possibly related to Old Norse words suggesting dullness or clumsiness.
The word has maintained a consistently negative connotation throughout its history, implying a lack of dexterity.
Memory tip
Imagine a clumsy bear stumbling around.
Word Origin
LanguageMiddle English
Original meaning
"awkward, unskilled"
Base: clumsy
clumsy attemptsclumsy movementsclumsy fingers
Common misspellings
clumseyclumsi
Practice
Usage
60%Spoken
40%Written