# dapper

/ˈdæpɝ/ (US) · /dˈæpɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dapper
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. neat and stylish

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describing a man who looks very neat and wears smart, stylish clothes.

For teachers: neat and trim in dress and appearance; typically applied to men to denote a sharp, well-groomed aesthetic.

- He looked very dapper in his new dark suit and polished shoes.
- The elderly gentleman remained dapper even in retirement, never appearing in public without a crisp linen shirt and a silk pocket square.

### 2. small and active

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

small, quick, and full of energy.

For teachers: characterised by a small, neat build and quick, energetic movements.

- The dapper little bird hopped quickly from branch to branch.
- He was a dapper man of short stature who moved through the crowded market with surprising speed and grace.

### 3. a shoe

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Dialect

a light canvas sports shoe, often called a plimsoll.

For teachers: a light canvas shoe with a rubber sole, typically used for physical education or casual wear.

- The children had to change into their dappers before starting gym class.
- In certain West Country dialects, the term dapper is still used to refer to the basic canvas shoes worn by schoolchildren.

## Examples

- He looked very dapper in his new suit.
- The groom looked dapper in his traditional waistcoat and bow tie during the wedding ceremony.
- Despite the casual nature of the event, he arrived looking dapper in a tailored tweed jacket and polished leather shoes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.