nifty

American  

[nif-tee] / ˈnɪf ti /

adjective

niftier, niftiest

1. attractively stylish or smart.

   a nifty new dress for Easter.

2. very good; fine; excellent.

   a nifty idea.

3. substantial; sizable.

   We sold the car for a nifty profit.

---

noun

nifties plural

1. something nifty, as a clever remark or joke.

nifty British  

/ ˈnɪftɪ /

adjective

1. pleasing, apt, or stylish

2. 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

Explanation

Something that's nifty is really great. You might tell your mom that the Hawaiian themed decorations for your dad's surprise party look nifty. Nifty is informal and a little old fashioned, but it's a perfect way to compliment a cute outfit or express your excitement about your little sister's new roller skates. If a friend comments on your nifty tap dance routine, she thinks it's swell. Nifty has been around as a colloquial term for "stylish or smart" since the 1860s, possibly from theater slang.

Example Sentences

Through methods like search engine optimization and other nifty page-ranking subterfuge, this nonverified content climbs to the top of search results and people’s consciousness.

From Slate • Mar. 28, 2026

She got a nifty long pass from her teammate Taylor Heise and saw space.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

Kian Benitez doubled Loyola’s lead with less than six minutes left in the first half, finishing a nifty feed in the box from fellow junior King Aberman.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025

You may be a dandy dealmaker and a nifty negotiator, but you’ve got a bargaining habit that you should really curb.

From Barron's • Oct. 17, 2025

Hamsters can’t do scissors, but we have nifty teeth.

From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney

Related Words

• dandy
• excellent
• neat
• stylish
• terrific