spiff

¹ American  

[spif] / spɪf /

verb (used with object)

Informal.

1. to make spiffy (usually followed byup ).

   Let's spiff up this office with new furniture.

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spiff ² American  

[spif] / spɪf /

noun

1. a bonus or other form of remuneration given to retail salespeople for promoting the products of a particular manufacturer.

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verb (used with object)

1. to reward (a salesperson) with a spiff.

Etymology

Origin of spiff¹

1875–80; perhaps v. use of dial. spiff well-dressed; see spiffy

Origin of spiff²

First recorded in 1855–60; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spiff

Elsewhere Mr. Jones describes “the spiff of excess air” from a pressure valve, “the horrible graunch of the car door” and “the prip prip prip of postage stamps parting from their perforations.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025

In late 1986, a book publisher — Harcourt Brace Jovanovich — bought Marineland, pledging to keep it going and even spiff it up.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2023

What if we could eliminate many unruly passenger incidents by simply suggesting that passengers spiff up a little before they leave for the airport?

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 19, 2023

Just look at how BuzzFeed’s rock-bottom stock value jumped when it said last month that the site would use services from buzzy startup OpenAI to spiff up the site’s famed quizzes.

From Slate ● Feb. 26, 2023

The Washburns hire two gardeners, who spiff up the grounds.

From "Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez

Related Words

• classy
• dashing
• rakish
• spry
• stylish