dapper

adjective

dap·​per ˈda-pər How to pronounce dapper (audio)
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

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 This night, one of his guests is an elderly, dapper gentleman named Plennie Wingo. Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, 3 May 2020 Actor and choreographer Darnell Pierre Benjamin is one of those people who manages to look dapper even when he is dressed down. David Lyman, Cincinnati.com, 7 May 2020 Lined with fuzzy lamb's wool and featuring a non-skid rubber sole, these are the ultimate house slipper for the dapper dude in your life. Anna Heyman, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2019 Clearly a fashion fan himself, Hawke has accompanied his mother to Prada shows in New York sporting very dapper bespoke tailoring by the Italian house. Liam Hess, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2020 See all Example Sentences for dapper 

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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of dapper was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near dapper

Cite this Entry

“Dapper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dapper. Accessed 12 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

dapper

adjective
dap·​per ˈdap-ər How to pronounce dapper (audio)
1
: being neat and trim in dress or appearance : spruce
2
: being alert and lively in movement and manners

More from Merriam-Webster on dapper

Last Updated: - Definition revised
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!