preppy

1 of 2

noun

prep·​py ˈpre-pē 

variants or preppie

plural preppies

1

: a student at or a graduate of a preparatory school

2

: a person deemed to dress or behave like a preppy

preppy

2 of 2

adjective

variants or preppie

1

: relating to, characteristic of, or being a preppy

2

: relating to or being a style of dress characterized especially by classic clothing and neat appearance

preppily

ˈpre-pə-lē 

adverb

preppiness

ˈpre-pē-nəs 

noun

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Slang Meaning of Preppy

A new use of preppy refers to a casual but upscale fashion trend, especially popular among preteen girls in the early 2020s, marked by bright colors and playful patterns. Some hallmarks include pastel pinks and blues, designs involving smiley faces and lightning bolts, athleisure, pleated miniskirts, baggy or cropped tops, hair bows, skincare products, and trendy accessories, with a premium placed on name brands. Learn more >

Examples of preppy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Prep school: After all these decades, old school preppy still isn’t going anywhere. —Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 12 Mar. 2026

In the past 21 years, that nascent brand has grown into a $200 million-plus business selling a full range of men’s, women’s and kids’ apparel and accessories from shoppers seeking a blend of East Coast preppy and California casual. —Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026

Adjective

Instead of simply showing classic suiting and more refined looks, the brand leaned hard into preppy nostalgia. —Diana Tsui, Footwear News, 1 May 2026

Between 40 percent off linen shorts, $34 performance polos, and under-$40 preppy Vineyard Vines button-ups, upgrading your warm-weather lineup has never been this easy. —Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

prep entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1