adjective

spiffy

SPIH-fee

Spiffy (adjective) means Smart, neat, and stylish in appearance. Example: “He showed up to the interview in a spiffy new suit.”

adjective

Smart, neat, and stylish in appearance.

"He showed up to the interview in a spiffy new suit."

"The renovated lobby looks pretty spiffy now."

How to use spiffy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLooking sharp, neat, or fashionable.

When to use it

A dated, slightly old-fashioned slang word — still understood but rarely used by younger speakers.

Word forms

spiffier comparative, Spiffies plural, spiffies plural, spiffiest superlative

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He showed up to the interview in a _____ new suit.

Etymology

Origin unknown, first recorded in print in the 1850s; related informal words like "spiff" and "spiffing" appeared soon after.

· First attested 1850

Class of 1850 spiffy joined the language around 1850.

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Rhymes for spiffy

iffy stiffy

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Frequently asked questions

What does “spiffy” mean?

The word “spiffy” means smart, neat, and stylish in appearance. In plain terms, looking sharp, neat, or fashionable.

How do you pronounce “spiffy”?

“Spiffy” is pronounced SPIH-fee (/ˈspɪfi/ in IPA).

How do you use “spiffy” in a sentence?

Here is “spiffy” used in a sentence: “He showed up to the interview in a spiffy new suit.”

What part of speech is “spiffy”?

“Spiffy” is an adjective.

Where does the word “spiffy” come from?

The word “spiffy” dates back to around 1850. Origin unknown, first recorded in print in the 1850s; related informal words like "spiff" and "spiffing" appeared soon after.