dapper

adjective

dap·​per ˈda-pər 

1

a

: neat and trim in appearance

looked very dapper in their uniforms

b

: very spruce and stylish

a dapper new suit

2

: alert and lively in movement and manners

a dapper old gentleman

dapperly adverb

dapperness noun

Synonyms of dapper

• elegant
• smart
• stylish
• fashionable
• natty

Examples of dapper in a Sentence

The students all looked very dapper in their uniforms.

the dapper gentleman drew admiring glances from all over the ballroom

Recent Examples on the Web

The British brand’s suiting channeled dapper English luxury with dedicated cigar pockets on outerwear, along with mismatched velvet slippers adorned with playing card emblems. — Scarlett Conlon, CNN Money, 24 June 2026

Corneliani updated its sartorial proposition via functional details befitting a very dapper explorer. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 22 June 2026

Henry Cavill looks dapper in a top hat and three-piece suit on Day 2 of Royal Ascot in England on June 17. — People Staff, PEOPLE, 21 June 2026

And Reid will be dapper in a custom tuxedo by Peters Clothiers of Kansas City. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 20 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dapyr, from Middle Dutch dapper quick, strong; akin to Old High German tapfar heavy, Old Church Slavic debelŭ thick

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for dapper

• capper
• clapper
• flapper
• kapur
• mapper
• napper
• rapper
• sapper
• snapper
• tapper
• trapper
• wrapper

Kids Definition

dapper

adjective

dap·​per ˈdap-ər 

1

: being neat and trim in dress or appearance : spruce

2

: being alert and lively in movement and manners