dressier; dressiest
1
: showy in dress
2
: stylish, smart
dressy clothes
3
: requiring or characterized by fancy or formal dress
a dressy affair
dressiness noun

Examples of dressy in a Sentence

Those shoes are so dressy, I rarely wear them. She wore an outfit that was much too dressy for the occasion.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
There are dressy details like a hook and tab with zipper fly closure, and comfy details like the hidden elastic at the back waist that keeps the fit non-restrictive. Gabrielle Porcaro, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2024 This trend is interesting to consider against other trends, like Rolex dropping in price almost categorically, except for the skyrocketing prices of the rather dressy Rolex Day-Date 36. David Flett, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2024 For a celebratory birthday outing with her love, Rihanna wore a dressy cocktail ensemble starring a daring black halter maxi dress. Michelle Lee, People.com, 4 Oct. 2024 But the most versatile silhouette is the knee-high boot which can be effortlessly styled with everything from dressy fall dresses to jeans and midi skirts. Vivien Lee, refinery29.com, 29 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dressy 

Word History

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dressy was in 1768

Dictionary Entries Near dressy

Cite this Entry

“Dressy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dressy. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

dressy

adjective
dressier; dressiest
1
: showy in dress
2
: suitable for formal occasions
dressy clothes

More from Merriam-Webster on dressy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!