Entry 2 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913 Dowdy /dou'dē/ · Dow·dy · IPA /ˈdaʊdi/ a. n. 01 a. Showing a vulgar taste in dress; awkward and slovenly in dress; vulgar-looking. 1. Showing a vulgar taste in dress; awkward and slovenly in dress; vulgar-looking. 02 n. An awkward, vulgarly dressed, inelegant woman. pl. Dowdies 1. An awkward, vulgarly dressed, inelegant woman.