dressier; dressiest
1
: showy in dress
2
: stylish, smart
dressy clothes
3
: requiring or characterized by fancy or formal dress
a dressy affair
dressiness noun

Examples of dressy in a Sentence

Those shoes are so dressy, I rarely wear them. She wore an outfit that was much too dressy for the occasion.
Recent Examples on the Web Having a dressy pair of jeans at your disposal makes picking a look for nights out all the easier. Gabrielle Porcaro, Travel + Leisure, 14 Feb. 2024 Get The Recipe 30 of 70 Pumpkin-and-Winter Squash Gratin Your family will enjoy this cheesy casserole at a dressy holiday dinner or cozy weeknight meal. Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2023 The family kept things dressy yet cute and coordinated during the birthday outing, with Wade and his wife rocking matching tan coats as Kaavia wore a sweater with a star pattern. Others in attendance at the celebration were Wade's eldest son Zaire, 21 and Wade's sister, Tragil Wade. Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 20 Jan. 2024 With small bow detail on the back of the ankles, these socks add a quirky and adorable element to both casual and dressy footwear. Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 16 Jan. 2024 The Everlane jean is made with organic cotton and has a straight-leg cut that looks seamless with casual or dressy outfits. Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 27 Nov. 2023 For instance, these Madewell boots have a sophisticated style and are dressy enough to wear with luxe fabrics and formal silhouettes but can still easily be worn with more casual looks, too. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 9 Jan. 2024 The silk tops are dressy without trying to be too dressy. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2023 The Phoebe in cozy, dressy faux fur is on sale a full 40 percent off, and these slippers can be dressed up for lavish parties or dressed down for comfy lounging at home. Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 23 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dressy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dressy was in 1768

Dictionary Entries Near dressy

Cite this Entry

“Dressy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dressy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dressy

adjective
dressier; dressiest
1
: showy in dress
2
: suitable for formal occasions
dressy clothes

More from Merriam-Webster on dressy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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