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

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

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

We regret to inform you: The youths think T-shirts with those smiling X’s-for-eyes faces are preppy now.

From Slate • Oct. 6, 2023

There’s a reason she was cast as a popular, preppy type in her two first major roles.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 24, 2023

I turn to the others and realize that they’re all just as shaken as I am—even the preppy kid.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Related Words

• Waspy