View synonyms for preppy

preppy

or prep·pie

[ prep-ee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural prep·pies.

a person who is a student at or a graduate of a preparatory school.
a person who favors or is viewed as favoring clothing style or behavior associated with traditional preparatory schools.

, prep·pi·er, prep·pi·est.

of, relating to, or characteristic of preparatory schools or their students.
of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or being a style in dress or mode of behavior of a preppy.

preppy

/ ˈprɛpɪ /

characteristic of or denoting a fashion style of neat, understated, and often expensive clothes; young but classic: suggesting that the wearer is well off, upper class, and conservative

Origin of preppy¹

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900; prep + -y ¹, -y ²

Origin of preppy¹

C20: originally US, from preppy a person who attends or has attended a preparatory school before college

One subplot involves a bris, and there’s pointed talk of how preppy icon Ralph Lauren was born Ralph Lifshitz in the Bronx.

From Time

Her style, much like her diminutive nickname, is best described as “Hamptons twee”—preppy and peppy.

The collection was a mix of playfully preppy and downtown cool, and, as always, was wearable in a very different way.

The result is a spectacular mash-up of aspirationally misguided 1990s preppy style.

The two collaborate on one-off projects, with the possibility of a preppy-branded line in the future.

A little girl wearing preppy clothes with a kitten—people want to be like her and wear those same clothes.

April 18, 2024petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr]

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Browse