ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fashionable

adj.
US //ˈfæʃənəbəɫ// UK //fˈæʃənəbəl// fash·ion·able
  1. 1 popular style (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    following the newest and most popular style in clothes, hair, or behavior.

    conforming to the current popular trend or style, particularly regarding apparel or social habits.

    Example

    She always wears fashionable clothes that she finds in the latest magazines.

    Example

    The boutique specializes in fashionable evening wear designed to appeal to a younger, style-conscious demographic.

    Usage

    often used to describe clothing, accessories, or people.
    • unfashionable
    • dated
    • old fashioned
  2. 2 socially popular (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    used or visited by people who are rich, successful, or follow trends.

    favoured or frequented by the social elite or those following current cultural trends.

    Example

    This has become a very fashionable neighborhood for young artists to live in.

    Example

    The coastal town transformed from a quiet fishing village into a fashionable resort frequented by international celebrities.

    Usage

    frequently describes places like restaurants, neighborhoods, or hobbies.
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  1. 3 well-bred (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic Literary

    belonging to a high social class with polite manners.

    pertaining to high society or characterized by the manners of the upper class.

    Example

    The young man was known for his fashionable manners and expensive taste.

    Example

    In the novels of the period, a fashionable education was considered essential for any young woman hoping to secure a favorable marriage.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is rarely found in modern speech and is mostly encountered in nineteenth-century literature.
Origin

From fashion + -able.

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