preppy

1 of 2

noun

prep·​py ˈpre-pē How to pronounce preppy (audio)
variants or preppie
plural preppies
1
: a student at or a graduate of a preparatory school
2
: a person deemed to dress or behave like a preppy

preppy

2 of 2

adjective

variants or preppie
1
: relating to, characteristic of, or being a preppy
2
: relating to or being a style of dress characterized especially by classic clothing and neat appearance
preppily adverb
preppiness noun

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Slang Meaning of Preppy

A new use of preppy refers to a casual but upscale fashion trend, especially popular among preteen girls in the early 2020s, marked by bright colors and playful patterns. Some hallmarks include pastel pinks and blues, designs involving smiley faces and lightning bolts, athleisure, pleated miniskirts, baggy or cropped tops, hair bows, skincare products, and trendy accessories, with a premium placed on name brands. Learn more >

Examples of preppy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Depending on the occasion, Gomez will opt for something a little traditional and super polished, while Swift tends to keep it more playful preppy. Sam Reed, Glamour, 21 July 2025 Dior’s take skews preppy, with items such as polo shirts and V-neck sweaters worn with Bermuda shorts or pleated pants, and jackets and blazers in muted checks. Joelle Diderich, WWD, 21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
This experience led him to dream of one day creating a French preppy brand. Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 13 Sep. 2025 Black-and-white stripes of all orientations and sizes packed a subtle preppy punch; giant sun hats were paired (expectedly) with breezy dresses and (unexpectedly) with sweater vests, ties and trousers; and bright pops of red infused the collection with intentional excitement. Anika Reed, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for preppy

Word History

Etymology

Noun

prep entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of preppy was in 1880

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Cite this Entry

“Preppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preppy. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

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