adj

dapper

DA-puh

Dapper (adj) means Neat and stylish in dress and appearance, especially of a man. Example: “He showed up in a dapper three-piece suit for the interview.”

adj

Neat and stylish in dress and appearance, especially of a man.

"He showed up in a dapper three-piece suit for the interview."

"The dapper old gentleman always wore a bow tie."

How to use dapper

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLooking sharp and well put-together, usually in a somewhat old-fashioned, tidy way.

Common pairings

dapper gentleman dapper suit dapper look

Word forms

dapperer comparative, dappers plural, dapperest superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He showed up in a _____ three-piece suit for the interview.

Etymology

From Middle English daper ("pretty, neat"), from Middle Dutch dapper ("stalwart, nimble") — the sense shifted over time from "sturdy" to "smartly dressed."

Origin: Middle English

Rhymes for dapper

rapper clapper crapper slapper trapper wrapper snapper kidnapper

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Frequently asked questions

What does “dapper” mean?

The word “dapper” means neat and stylish in dress and appearance, especially of a man. In plain terms, looking sharp and well put-together, usually in a somewhat old-fashioned, tidy way.

How do you pronounce “dapper”?

“Dapper” is pronounced DA-puh (/ˈdæpə(ɹ)/ in IPA).

How do you use “dapper” in a sentence?

Here is “dapper” used in a sentence: “He showed up in a dapper three-piece suit for the interview.”

What part of speech is “dapper”?

“Dapper” is an adjective.

Where does the word “dapper” come from?

The word “dapper” comes from Middle English. From Middle English daper ("pretty, neat"), from Middle Dutch dapper ("stalwart, nimble") — the sense shifted over time from "sturdy" to "smartly dressed.".