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Synonyms

swanky

American  
[swang-kee] / ˈswæŋ ki /

adjective

swankier, swankiest

  1. elegant or ostentatious; swank. swink.

    Synonyms:
    fashionable, smart, chic, stylish
swanky British  
/ ˈswæŋkɪ /

adjective

  1. expensive and showy; stylish

    a swanky hotel

  2. boastful or conceited

"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

Usage

What does swanky mean? Swanky means fancy, stylish, or classy, especially in a showy or expensive way. It is often used informally.Swanky can refer to something that is ostentatious (over the top) or something that is very elegant. Either way, the unifying element is fanciness.Example: Anna doesn’t usually get a chance to eat at fancy restaurants, so she really enjoyed the gourmet food at the swanky office party.

Other Word Forms

  • swankily adverb
  • swankiness noun

Etymology

Origin of swanky

First recorded in 1835–45; swank 1 + -y 1

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.