preppy

American  

[prep-ee] / ˈprɛp i /

Or preppie

noun

plural

preppies

1. a person who is a student at or a graduate of a preparatory school.

2. a person who favors or is viewed as favoring clothing style or behavior associated with traditional preparatory schools.

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adjective

preppier, preppiest

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of preparatory schools or their students.

2. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or being a style in dress or mode of behavior of a preppy.

preppy British  

/ ˈprɛpɪ /

adjective

1. 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

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noun

1. a person exhibiting such style

Etymology

Origin of preppy

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

Explanation

Someone who's preppy either attended an expensive, private high school and an Ivy League college — or just dresses that way. The informal preppy comes from "college preparatory school," its shortened form, "prep school," and the resulting noun prep, used to describe graduates of these elite high schools. You can substitute preppy as a noun, too: "The campus is full of preppies — maybe I'll go to art school instead." Preppy style includes dressing in polo shirts, khaki pants, and boat shoes, or looking like you just finished playing tennis or riding a horse.

Example Sentences

“I viewed the brand for preppy styles geared to an older generation,” said Lavinia Gabriele, a 26-year-old New Yorker, who works in retail.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 22, 2025

As Morrison writes, that writer, “a preppy young man named Dick Cavett, came down from the studio to give the boys their tickets.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2025

In 1987, David Letterman was taping his late-night show in Las Vegas before rowdy audiences of mostly young men in preppy pullovers and muscle shirts — prototypical bros raised on “Porky’s.”

From New York Times • Jun. 19, 2024

There was that preppy look that we had to play on.

From Salon • Oct. 8, 2023

Kim was sitting at the next table over with two other preppy girls.

From "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell

Related Words

• Waspy