English Reference
Noun

dandy

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US /ˈdændi/ UK /dˈændi/ dandy Nautical

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.

Usage

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

This entry
Level C2 · Proficiency
Frequency Frequent
Updated