preppy

1 of 2

noun

prep·​py ˈpre-pē 

variants or preppie

plural preppies

1

: a student at or a graduate of a preparatory school

2

: a person deemed to dress or behave like a preppy

preppy

2 of 2

adjective

variants or preppie

1

: relating to, characteristic of, or being a preppy

2

: relating to or being a style of dress characterized especially by classic clothing and neat appearance

preppily

ˈpre-pə-lē 

adverb

preppiness

ˈpre-pē-nəs 

noun

Did you know?

Slang Meaning of Preppy

A new use of preppy refers to a casual but upscale fashion trend, especially popular among preteen girls in the early 2020s, marked by bright colors and playful patterns. Some hallmarks include pastel pinks and blues, designs involving smiley faces and lightning bolts, athleisure, pleated miniskirts, baggy or cropped tops, hair bows, skincare products, and trendy accessories, with a premium placed on name brands. Learn more >

Examples of preppy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Dior’s take skews preppy, with items such as polo shirts and V-neck sweaters worn with Bermuda shorts or pleated pants, and jackets and blazers in muted checks. —Joelle Diderich, WWD, 21 Jan. 2025

Sandro’s beach wear was more Martha’s Vineyard, as the brand played up the preppy for its summer collection. —Rhonda Richford, WWD, 4 Oct. 2024

Adjective

Anderson’s business casual outfit is a comfier swap for dresses — layering a sweater over a collared button-down shirt gives off a preppy vibe, while trousers are a dressier swap for jeans. —Nicol Natale, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025

Designed in-house and exclusive to Anthropologie, Celandine offers playful colors and prints, novelty textures, breathable gauze and linen fabrics that offer a range of sensibilities from preppy to sensual and reflect the spirit of adventure and relaxation. —Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 13 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

prep entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1