adj

dressy

DREH-see

Dressy (adj) means Smart, elegant, or formal in style, especially of clothing. Example: “The invitation said the party was dressy, so she wore heels.”

adj

Smart, elegant, or formal in style, especially of clothing.

"The invitation said the party was dressy, so she wore heels."

Fond of wearing fashionable or fine clothes.

"He was always a bit dressy, even for casual dinners."

How to use dressy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSmart and formal-looking, or (of a person) keen on dressing up nicely.

Common pairings

dressy outfit dressy occasion

Word forms

dressier comparative, dressiest superlative

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The invitation said the party was _____, so she wore heels.

Rhymes for dressy

messy Hennessy

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Frequently asked questions

What does “dressy” mean?

The word “dressy” means smart, elegant, or formal in style, especially of clothing. In plain terms, smart and formal-looking, or (of a person) keen on dressing up nicely.

How do you pronounce “dressy”?

“Dressy” is pronounced DREH-see (/ˈdɹɛsi/ in IPA).

How do you use “dressy” in a sentence?

Here is “dressy” used in a sentence: “The invitation said the party was dressy, so she wore heels.”

What part of speech is “dressy”?

“Dressy” is an adjective.

How many meanings does “dressy” have?

“Dressy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: smart, elegant, or formal in style, especially of clothing.