preppy

or prep·pie

[ prep-ee ]

noun

, plural prep·pies.

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

, prep·pi·er, prep·pi·est.

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

Perhaps you were more into the preppy look last year but now you want to explore more unisex styles — the opportunities are endless.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Salon

And if you did love it, Abercrombie was the entry point to a particular type of all-American cool, a preppy utopia for the young and thin.

From BBC

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

From Los Angeles Times

Maybe they were preppy, maybe their community was queer or maybe they were white and had just loved the jokes on Black Twitter even though they didn't really participate.

From Salon

Related Words

• Waspy