dapper

[ dap-er ]

adjective

1. neat; trim; smart:

   He looked very dapper in his new suit.

   Synonyms: natty, jaunty, modish, spruce

2. lively and brisk:

   to walk with a dapper step.

3. small and active.

dapper

/ ˈdæpə /

adjective

1. neat and spruce in dress and bearing; trim
2. small and nimble

Derived Forms

• ˈdapperly, adverb
• ˈdapperness, noun

Other Words From

• dapper·ly adverb
• dapper·ness noun
• un·dapper adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dapper¹

1400–50; late Middle English daper < Middle Dutch dapper nimble, stalwart; cognate with German tapfer brave

Word History and Origins

Origin of dapper¹

C15: from Middle Dutch: active, nimble

Example Sentences

His wide-brim hats and dapper suits.

From Los Angeles Times

Hosts and father-son duo Eugene Levy and Dan Levy will undoubtedly look dapper as well, taking cues from their fashionable “Schitt’s Creek” characters.

From Los Angeles Times

"I would further point you in the direction of the centrality of personality politics in both elections in which the overlapping stances that the candidates were taking made their images all the more important. The image of the dapper Kennedy and Nixon the persnickety grump weighed all the more because both were staunch cold warriors and both tacked to relatively moderate proposals on the economy and civil rights."

From Salon

Forge stalks the stage in white face paint, a dapper, demonic menace.

From Los Angeles Times

David N. Redden, an innovative auctioneer and a dapper presence at the podium, sold them all in a 42-year career at Sotheby’s.

From New York Times

Related Words

• classy
• dashing
• rakish
• spry
• stylish