adj

macaroni

mak-uh-ROH-nee

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Macaroni (adj) means (historical) Fashionable or stylish in an exaggerated, foppish way, especially describing 18th-century dandies. Example: “The young lord dressed in the height of macaroni fashion, with an absurdly tall wig.”

adj

(historical) Fashionable or stylish in an exaggerated, foppish way, especially describing 18th-century dandies.

"The young lord dressed in the height of macaroni fashion, with an absurdly tall wig."

noun

A type of macaroon (a small sweet cake or biscuit).

"She served a plate of coconut macaroni alongside the tea."

How to use macaroni

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost commonly known today as the pasta, but historically also described an over-the-top fashionable dandy.

Common mistake

The "fop" sense is archaic and mostly survives in the phrase from "Yankee Doodle" ("stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni").

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: macaronis
Comparative: more macaroni
Superlative: most macaroni

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The young lord dressed in the height of _____ fashion, with an absurdly tall wig.

Etymology

From Italian maccheroni, of uncertain origin; the "fashionable dandy" sense in English comes from the 18th-century British Macaroni Club, whose members were known for flamboyant, Italian-influenced style.

Origin: Italian · First attested 1700

Class of 1700 macaroni joined the language around 1700.

ache argh battleship bootleg Boswell

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Rhymes for macaroni

oni yoni Joni noni Toni Moni Soni dhoni Zamboni Marconi pepperoni Berlusconi

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Frequently asked questions

What does “macaroni” mean?

The word “macaroni” means (historical) Fashionable or stylish in an exaggerated, foppish way, especially describing 18th-century dandies. In plain terms, most commonly known today as the pasta, but historically also described an over-the-top fashionable dandy.

How do you pronounce “macaroni”?

“Macaroni” is pronounced mak-uh-ROH-nee (/ˌmæk.əˈɹoʊ.ni/ in IPA).

How do you use “macaroni” in a sentence?

Here is “macaroni” used in a sentence: “The young lord dressed in the height of macaroni fashion, with an absurdly tall wig.”

What part of speech is “macaroni”?

Depending on how it is used, “macaroni” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “macaroni” come from?

The word “macaroni” dates back to around 1700 and comes from Italian. From Italian maccheroni, of uncertain origin; the "fashionable dandy" sense in English comes from the 18th-century British Macaroni Club, whose members were known for flamboyant, Italian-influenced style.

How many meanings does “macaroni” have?

“Macaroni” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: (historical) Fashionable or stylish in an exaggerated, foppish way, especially describing 18th-century dandies.

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Vocabulary lists that include macaroni:

Words with Italian origins