swanky

[ swang-kee ]

adjective

, swank·i·er, swank·i·est.

1. elegant or ostentatious; swank. swink.

   Synonyms: fashionable, smart, chic, stylish

swanky

/ ˈswæŋkɪ /

adjective

1. expensive and showy; stylish

   a swanky hotel

2. boastful or conceited

Derived Forms

• ˈswankily, adverb
• ˈswankiness, noun

Other Words From

• swanki·ly adverb
• swanki·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of swanky¹

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

Example Sentences

Beverly Hills A dense concentration of high-profile places to go and things to do in the Golden Triangle certainly make this swanky slice of Greater L.A. seem walkable.

From Los Angeles Times

He thinks his conservative neighbors here in the Sierra foothills where old gold country merges with swanky Sacramento suburbia are, too.

From Los Angeles Times

"Just two regular blokes, having a go at beef rendang or apple pie. Hopefully we caught the attention of people who didn't normally watch swanky cooking programmes on telly."

From BBC

Mr Chen's swanky lifestyle has certainly felt the pinch from this U-turn.

From BBC

“I own a little Western town out in the desert,” says Gold, perched atop a balcony at a broker’s open house for a swanky Manhattan Beach property.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• classy
• deluxe
• fancy
• fashionable
• luxurious
• posh
• ritzy
• splashy
• stylish
• sumptuous
• swank
• trendy

More About Swanky

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.

Where does swanky come from?

Swanky is first recorded in English around the 1830s. It’s a combination of the older noun form swank and the adjective-forming suffix -y (commonly used to make verbs and nouns into adjectives, as in shine/shiny and juice/juicy).

Swanky is usually used in a way that’s a bit informal, especially when highlighting how fancy something is: Look at the swanky hotel. Did you really get into that swanky club? Wow, swanky new apartment! A lot of times, the swanky thing being described is nicer than the things the person describing it is used to. This means a person who can afford a lot of swanky things or go to a lot of swanky places probably doesn’t use the word. Funny how that works.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms of swanky?

• swank

What are some synonyms for swanky?

• fancy
• posh
• classy
• ritzy

What are some words that often get used in discussing swanky?

• hotel
• restaurant 
• nightclub
• expensive

How is swanky used in real life?

Swanky is typically used informally, and often to be a little humorous.

What's the purpose of this @BrianCHouston?

Is this swanky Manhattan complex a soup kitchen? Is it to help the less fortunate?

I'm reliably informed you have an apartment on the top floor complete with marble inlay.

You & your friends must be laughing at Australian taxpayers.

— 𝐑𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐭 (@RonniSalt) December 8, 2019

Hey all #startups in the #fintech, #crypto, #tech space, we have swanky cool office space in Woodstock waiting for you from 01 Jan 2020, available for a team of 4/5.
Interested? DM or email us at [e-mail] pic.twitter.com/0Olg8WDHsI

— Blockchain Africa Conference 2020 (@BlockchainZA) December 9, 2019

hehe me n my swanky new glasses pic.twitter.com/QiEj1wBJax

— chrisy (@cuhhrissee) January 10, 2020

 

 

Try using swanky!

Which of the following sentences uses swanky incorrectly?

A. Our new office space is very swanky, with ergonomic chairs and glass walls.
B. We had to eat at a swanky restaurant that had wet floors and wallpaper peeling off the walls.
C. He looks so swanky in his three-piece suit.