adj

nobby

Nobby (adj) means Stylish, smart, or fashionable in an upper-class way (informal, dated British). Example: “He turned up in a nobby new suit.”

adj

Stylish, smart, or fashionable in an upper-class way (informal, dated British).

"He turned up in a nobby new suit."

"It was a nobby little restaurant, all white tablecloths and hushed voices."

Wealthy or of high social standing.

"They lived in a nobby part of town."

How to use nobby

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishPosh, classy, or well-off — an informal, rather old-fashioned British word.

When to use it

Dated and informal; mostly heard in older British English.

Common pairings

a nobby address nobby clothes

Word forms

nobbier comparative, nobbiest superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He turned up in a _____ new suit.

Etymology

Built from "nob" (a rich or upper-class person) plus the adjective ending "-y."

Rhymes for nobby

hobby bobby lobby Robby dobby snobby

See all rhymes for nobby →

Frequently asked questions

What does “nobby” mean?

The word “nobby” means stylish, smart, or fashionable in an upper-class way (informal, dated British). In plain terms, posh, classy, or well-off — an informal, rather old-fashioned British word.

How do you use “nobby” in a sentence?

Here is “nobby” used in a sentence: “He turned up in a nobby new suit.”

What part of speech is “nobby”?

“Nobby” is an adjective.

How many meanings does “nobby” have?

“Nobby” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: stylish, smart, or fashionable in an upper-class way (informal, dated British).