nifty
Americanadjective
-
attractively stylish or smart.
a nifty new dress for Easter.
-
very good; fine; excellent.
a nifty idea.
-
substantial; sizable.
We sold the car for a nifty profit.
noun
plural
niftiesadjective
-
pleasing, apt, or stylish
-
quick, agile
he's nifty on his feet
Other Word Forms
- niftily adverb
- niftiness noun
Etymology
Origin of nifty
An Americanism dating back to 1860–65; of obscure origin
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.
Not that “Eternity,” after a plot swerve that had this viewer fooled, doesn’t find a nifty way to stick its heartfelt landing.
From Los Angeles Times
“Well, I’ll be! I almost didn’t recognize you, Cassawoof, in that nifty dancing outfit. And look at you two fine fellows, with your hair all slicked back! Shows what I know about fashion.”
From Literature
Their—soon to be everyone’s—nifty solution to the problem of selling the lower floors appears, in retrospect, almost magical.
From Literature
Booker was a menace on both sides of the court, grabbing five rebounds, blocking five shots and even throwing a nifty pass to a cutting Jamar Brown for a layup.
From Los Angeles Times
That return to form was summed up by a searing break in the second half, where the England wing almost ran half the pitch to score after some nifty footwork.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
