style

noun \ ˈstī(-ə)l \

|Updated on: 24 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: style in a Sentence

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

But, of course, that’s not all for Gigi's celebratory style.

— avery matera, Teen Vogue, "Gigi Hadid Announced Her 35th "Vogue" Cover in New York City," 20 June 2018
For more musings on all things fashion and style, follow me at @ARTschorn.

— adam tschorn, latimes.com, "Image Letters: Readers share their own memories of Old Spice — and their fathers," 20 June 2018
His rhetoric, style and focus are a stark contrast to former Gov. Eric Greitens, who resigned June 1 after months of criminal charges and threats of impeachment.

— jason hancock, kansascity, "Who has the ear of Gov. Mike Parson? Meet his inner circle," 20 June 2018
Originally built in 1991 as the Costa Classica, the nine-deck-high vessel was designed by renowned architect Pierluigi Cerri and noted for its cutting-edge style and quality Italian art collection.

— gene sloan, USA TODAY, "Cruise ship tours: Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s Grand Classica," 19 June 2018
California also helped propel the surf industry, which modernized surfboards and surf style.

— alejandro lazo, WSJ, "Surfers vs. Skateboarders: The Fight for the Soul of California," 19 June 2018
The battle over the budget also reflects differences in political style.

— nick corasaniti, New York Times, "A Budget Showdown Looms, and a New Governor Is Tested," 19 June 2018
Combined with his effectiveness getting to the line - drawing 7.1 fouls per 40 minutes and converting 86 percent of those freebies - Young is tailor-made for the NBA's current style of play.

— matthew giles, chicagotribune.com, "Ranking the top 50 prospects in the 2018 NBA draft," 19 June 2018
Currently Bunny Eyez are available in five styles for women that each retail for $27.

— Southern Living, "Hoda Kotb Is Obsessed with These Reading Glasses," 19 June 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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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.

- the current fashion

style often implies a distinctive fashion adopted by people of taste.

- a media baron used to traveling in style

mode suggests the fashion of the moment among those anxious to appear elegant and sophisticated.

- slim bodies are the mode at this resort

vogue stresses the wide acceptance of a fashion.

- short skirts are back in vogue

fad suggests caprice in taking up or in dropping a fashion.

- last year's fad is over

rage and craze stress intense enthusiasm in adopting a fad.

- Cajun food was the rage nearly everywhere for a time
- crossword puzzles once seemed just a passing craze but have lasted

style

verb

styled; styling

transitive verb

1 : to call or designate by an identifying term : name

2 a : to give a particular style to

b : to design, make, or arrange in accord with the prevailing mode

—

styler

noun

See style defined for English-language learners

Examples of style in a Sentence

She cuts and styles hair.
She's having her hair styled tomorrow.
a book styled for a general audience

Recent Examples of style from the Web

That philosophy could set him apart from other potential Democratic candidates like US Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who style themselves as populist progressives.

— james pindell, BostonGlobe.com, "Is Bloomberg making a big step to run for president as a Democrat?," 20 June 2018
Beyoncé was seen on stage during the On The Run II tour wearing the matching hoodie to the Gucci boots, styled with a classic white tank and high-waisted denim cut-offs.

— avery matera, Teen Vogue, "Beyoncé and Ariana Grande Wore Gucci Logo Boots," 19 June 2018
Getty Images Nick wore a casual tee and jeans combo, styled with a distressed denim jacket.

— marina liao, Marie Claire, "Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas Make Their Relationship Status Airport-Official," 8 June 2018
Next Josh outscored 15-year-old Colin Urban in an intense game of RoboCop to take home a trophy, styled like a wrestling championship belt, and the first-place prize of $2,500.

— ryan smith, Chicago Reader, "The First Family of pinball: Meet the local wizards behind the game's huge resurgence," 3 May 2018
Tennessee Titans' Rishard Matthews selected Know Your Rights, the charity of his college friend Colin Kaepernick, and Rivero painted Kaepernick's name and an image of him kneeling with his hair styled into a fist.

— hunter schwarz, CNN, "How athletes are turning their shoes into political symbols," 14 Apr. 2018
Shayne Chammavanijakul, a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, felt let down by the way some magazines depicted Asian cuisines — framed as alien, styled with visual clichés and oversimplified.

— tejal rao, New York Times, "A New Generation of Food Magazines Thinks Small, and in Ink," 27 Mar. 2018
Despite the salon’s excitement, hundreds of followers lambasted the business for styling the White House adviser and threatened to never return.

— Fox News, "Ivanka Trump's visit to Iowa salon sparks social media backlash," 21 Mar. 2018
The beanies form the base for yarn hair styled into Disney superstar princess hair — Elsa, Anna, Moana, Ariel, Tiara, Rapunzel — but also Jack Sparrow pirates and superheros.

— zaz hollander, Anchorage Daily News, "‘Strands of Magic’: Alaska moms get national recognition for yarn wigs," 13 Feb. 2018