ENGLISH
REFERENCE

dandy

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈdændi// UK //dˈændi// dandy Archaic Informal Slang

n. a man who cares a lot about his clothes and looking very stylish. It is a slightly old-fashioned word for someone who is very fashionable.

n. a man who places excessive importance on physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies. Often used to describe historical figures or those with a highly curated, flamboyant style.


SIMPLE

He dressed like a dandy in his velvet suit.

CONTEXTUAL

The young man was quite the dandy, spending most of his inheritance on custom-made silk waistcoats and expensive perfumes.

COMPLEX

While the term originated as a critique of vanity, the nineteenth-century dandy often used his appearance as a form of social rebellion against the drab uniformity of the industrial age.

Synonyms
Usage

Often used with the definite article ('the dandy') to refer to the social archetype.

© 2026 English Reference