style

noun \ ˈstī(-ə)l \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

1 : designation, title

2 a : a distinctive manner of expression (as in writing or speech)

writes with more attention to style than to content

the flowery style of 18th century prose

b : a distinctive manner or custom of behaving or conducting oneself

the formal style of the court

his style is abrasive

; also : a particular mode of living

in high style

c : a particular manner or technique by which something is done, created, or performed

a unique style of horseback riding

the classical style of dance

3 a : stylus

b : gnomon 1b

c : the filiform usually elongated part of the pistil bearing a stigma at its apex — see flower illustration

d : a slender elongated process (such as a bristle) on an animal

4 : a distinctive quality, form, or type of something

a new dress style

the Greek style of architecture

5 a : the state of being popular : fashion

clothes that are always in style

b : fashionable elegance

c : beauty, grace, or ease of manner or technique

an awkward moment she handled with style

6 : a convention with respect to spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and typographic arrangement and display followed in writing or printing

—

styleless

play \ˈstī(-ə)l-ləs\ adjective

—

stylelessness

noun

See style defined for English-language learners

See style defined for kids

Examples of style in a Sentence

I don't like the flowery style of his writing.
She has a unique style of singing.
a baseball pitcher with an unusual style
She writes with more attention to style than to content.
The room was decorated in modern style.
The car is available in several different styles.
the Greek style of architecture
The range of clothing styles has become more varied.
His management style is abrasive.

Recent Examples of style from the Web

The post-revolutionary generation will bring a change in style and raise Cubans’ expectations of their government.

— The Economist, "Cuba bids goodbye to the revolutionary generation," 12 Apr. 2018
Underscored is an online shopping guide for the best in style, tech, health and travel.

— anna hecht, CNN Underscored, "Meet the travel pillow that will change how you sleep on planes," 11 Apr. 2018
Though skateboarding has a lot of different flavors, there is an underlying essence of style and attitude that all of these artists exemplify.

— brittany martin, Los Angeles Magazine, "Shepard Fairey is Hosting a One-Night-Only Street Art Party," 11 Apr. 2018
The night ended with a touch of eighties style and contemporary dissonance.

— rachel aviv, The New Yorker, "A Sidelined Wall Street Legend Bets on Bitcoin," 10 Apr. 2018
The breakfast will be buffet style and will be held at Fire Headquarters/Company 1 at 52 Old Hartford Road.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Colchester Edition," 10 Apr. 2018
Overall, the look felt like a decidedly sweet new side of Hadid’s own personal style and a marked departure from usual.

— maria ward, Vogue, "Is That You, Bella Hadid? The Model Debuts a Demure New Look in Tokyo," 9 Apr. 2018
That record established the band as leading luminaries in Philadelphia’s formidable indie rock scene and won acclaim for both Quinlan’s sharply drawn, short-story-like songs and her remarkably expressive, unafraid-to-be-abrasive vocal style.

— dan deluca, Philly.com, "Philly's Hop Along just released one of the most-anticipated albums of the year," 6 Apr. 2018
The show is song-swap style, with the three pitching in on each other’s material.

— BostonGlobe.com, "The Ticket: What’s happening in the local arts world," 6 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'style.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of style

Middle English stile, style, from Latin stilus spike, stem, stylus, style of writing; perhaps akin to Latin instigare to goad — more at stick

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

style Synonyms

Synonyms

approach, fashion, form, how, manner, method, methodology, recipe, strategy, system, tack, tactics, technique, way;

Related Words

mode, modus operandi;

blueprint, design, game, game plan, ground plan, intrigue, layout, line, model, plan, plot, program, route, scheme;

expedient, move, shift, step;

practice (also practise), process, routine;

policy;

Synonym Discussion of style

fashion, style, mode, vogue, fad, rage, craze mean the usage accepted by those who want to be up-to-date. fashion is the most general term and applies to any way of dressing, behaving, writing, or performing that is favored at any one time or place.