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Synonyms

spiff

1 American  
[spif] / spɪf /

verb (used with object)

Informal.

  1. to make spiffy (usually followed byup ).

    Let's spiff up this office with new furniture.
spiff 2 American  
[spif] / spɪf /

noun

  1. a bonus or other form of remuneration given to retail salespeople for promoting the products of a particular manufacturer.

verb (used with object)

  1. to reward (a salesperson) with a spiff.

Etymology

Origin of spiff1

1875–80; perhaps v. use of dial. spiff well-dressed; see spiffy

Origin of spiff2

First recorded in 1855–60; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Elsewhere Mr. Jones describes “the spiff of excess air” from a pressure valve, “the horrible graunch of the car door” and “the prip prip prip of postage stamps parting from their perforations.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025

What if we could eliminate many unruly passenger incidents by simply suggesting that passengers spiff up a little before they leave for the airport?

From Seattle Times • Jun. 19, 2023

Just look at how BuzzFeed’s rock-bottom stock value jumped when it said last month that the site would use services from buzzy startup OpenAI to spiff up the site’s famed quizzes.

From Slate • Feb. 26, 2023

The lender claims he is owed more than $130 million in secured debt, including money he provided in bankruptcy to repair and spiff up the property for sale.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2022

The Washburns hire two gardeners, who spiff up the grounds.

From "Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.