preppy

Or prep·pie

[prep-ee]

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.

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

/ 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

noun

1. a person exhibiting such style

Word History and Origins

Origin of preppy¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of preppy¹

C20: originally US, from preppy a person who attends or has attended a preparatory school before college

Example Sentences

For those who are interested, the collection looks like a preppy, a jock and a member of the “Duck Dynasty” cast got together and brainstormed.

From Los Angeles Times

Three words to describe my own day-to-day style are sensuality, preppy and edgy.

From Los Angeles Times

Richman, “who dressed like a kid that everyone laughed at in high school,” influenced the band’s preppy visual template and Byrne’s clenched singing voice.

From Los Angeles Times

Having gone to Ault on scholarship, Lee recalls that “I always felt I was implicitly apologizing for not being sufficiently rich and preppy and privileged.”

From Los Angeles Times

The top look this year, ironically, is “Old Money,” a fashion trend that emphasizes expensive, quality pieces and classic styles — not so much head-to-toe logos, but more tailored blazers, preppy vibes and subdued hues.

From Salon

Related Words

• Waspy