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

Example Sentences

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 The neutral bag will look chic with everything from your favorite leggings and T-shirt to a dressy blazer and jeans to a breezy spring dress and sandals. Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 24 Apr. 2023 More recently, my sense of style has loosened up, but my go-to footwear hasn’t strayed from dressy territory. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2023 Belts with suits have always been welcome at Sid Mashburn, which stocks a dizzying array of belts from dressy bridle leather to a hairy zebra hide. Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2023 Slides come in a range of different styles, from casual sandals and more dressy platforms to post-workout recovery styles. Grace Wu, Good Housekeeping, 7 Mar. 2023 One of her more famous outfits, an oft-Instagrammed look referenced in the final scenes of Spencer, features Diana in a sweat suit set, tucking the sweatpants into a pair of tall boots, topping it with a dressy blazer and accessorizing with a jaunty baseball cap. Cady Lang, Time, 5 Nov. 2021 For a combat boot style that is dressy enough for the office, consider the Charles & Keith Tweed & Patent Combat Boots, which feature a fun, Chanel-worthy tweed texture with a faux patent leather toe and heel. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 9 Jan. 2023 Cowboy boots can be dressy, too, with sleek toes that mimic oxfords and pair well with trousers or suit pants—and there are plenty of options that toe the line between classy and rugged, fitting easily into your everyday casual wear. Danny Perez, Popular Mechanics, 10 Mar. 2023 The hard part is, finding a pair that still feels dressy enough for a ball gown type of evening. Briannah Rivera, Seventeen, 2 Feb. 2023 See More

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 6 Jun. 2023.

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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