Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

modish

American  
[moh-dish] / ˈmoʊ dɪʃ /

adjective

  1. in the current fashion; stylish.

    Synonyms:
    trendy, fashionable, chic, smart

modish British  
/ ˈməʊdɪʃ /

adjective

  1. in the current fashion or style; contemporary

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of modish

First recorded in 1650–60; mode 2 + -ish 1

Explanation

Something modish is fashionable and stylish. It's a-la-mode, or right on top of the latest look. In the 1970s, it was considered modish to wear bell bottoms. The word modish is a combination of the French mode meaning "fashion" and the suffix -ish meaning "very common." When something is modish, it's all the rage. A swanky restaurant where it's hard to get a table or a boutique selling the newest designer labels are considered modish, or in vogue. Open up the pages of Vogue and you'll be accosted with the latest modish looks.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing modish

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The futuristic coat - modish in the 1960s - is also indicative of how the Queen was in sync with the times.

From BBC Dec. 26, 2025

Now he is being played by Omar Sy, wearing a more modish, but equally dashing, flat cap and trench coat ensemble.

From Salon Feb. 15, 2021

“It was as if the newer, more modish performance practices had shaken his convictions about his own straightforwardness just enough to undercut his effectiveness,” John Rockwell wrote in The Times in 1980.

From New York Times Jan. 21, 2021

“Portraits of an Era” parades modish men and women.

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 22, 2019

The modish bonnet with curling white feathers seemed to her uncle a crowning affront.

From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training