# fashionable

/ˈfæʃənəbəɫ/ (US) · /fˈæʃənəbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fashionable
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. popular style

adjective · CEFR B1

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

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

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

### 2. socially popular

adjective · CEFR B2

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

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

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

### 3. well-bred

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

belonging to a high social class with polite manners.

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

- The young man was known for his fashionable manners and expensive taste.
- In the novels of the period, a fashionable education was considered essential for any young woman hoping to secure a favorable marriage.

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

## Examples

- It is very fashionable to wear oversized jackets this season.
- The neighborhood became fashionable after several artists opened studios in the old warehouses.
- While certain intellectual theories become fashionable in academic circles for a decade or two, they often fade once a newer framework captures the collective imagination of the faculty.

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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.