definitions

dandy

[ dan-dee ]
/ ˈdæn di /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dandy ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural dan·dies.

a man who is excessively concerned about his clothes and appearance; a fop.
Informal. something or someone of exceptional or first-rate quality: Your reply was a dandy.

adjective, dan·di·er, dan·di·est.

characteristic of a dandy; foppish.
Informal. fine; excellent; first-rate: a dandy vacation spot.

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RELATED WORDS

terrific, marvelous, first-rate, splendid, nifty, fly, prime, great, swell, grand, paragon, keen, capital, model, cool, exemplary, famous, first-class, glorious, groovy

Nearby words

dandiprat, dandle, dandolo, dandong, dandruff, dandy, dandy brush, dandy fever, dandy operation, dandy roll, dandy-brush

Origin of dandy

First recorded in 1770–80; origin uncertain
Related formsdan·di·ly, dan·dy·ish·ly, dan·di·a·cal·ly [dan-dahy-uh k-lee] /dænˈdaɪ ək li/, adverbdan·dy·ish, dan·di·a·cal, adjectivedan·dy·ism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dandy

British Dictionary definitions for dandy (1 of 2)

dandy

1
/ (ˈdændɪ) /

noun plural -dies

a man greatly concerned with smartness of dress; beau
a yawl or ketch

adjective -dier or -diest

informal very good or fine
Derived Formsdandily, adverbdandyish, adjectivedandyism, noun

Word Origin for dandy

C18: perhaps short for jack-a-dandy

British Dictionary definitions for dandy (2 of 2)

dandy

2
/ (ˈdændɪ) /

noun

another name for dengue
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with dandy

dandy

see fine and dandy.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.