dapper

adjective

dap·​per ˈda-pər How to pronounce dapper (audio)
1
a
: neat and trim in appearance
looked very dapper in their uniforms
b
: very spruce and stylish
a dapper new suit
2
: alert and lively in movement and manners
a dapper old gentleman
dapperly adverb
dapperness noun

Examples of dapper in a Sentence

The students all looked very dapper in their uniforms. the dapper gentleman drew admiring glances from all over the ballroom
Recent Examples on the Web This night, one of his guests is an elderly, dapper gentleman named Plennie Wingo. Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, 3 May 2020 Actor and choreographer Darnell Pierre Benjamin is one of those people who manages to look dapper even when he is dressed down. David Lyman, Cincinnati.com, 7 May 2020 Lined with fuzzy lamb's wool and featuring a non-skid rubber sole, these are the ultimate house slipper for the dapper dude in your life. Anna Heyman, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2019 Clearly a fashion fan himself, Hawke has accompanied his mother to Prada shows in New York sporting very dapper bespoke tailoring by the Italian house. Liam Hess, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2020 His fresh Celine by Hedi Slimane tux with its red flower on the lapel was dapper and delightful on the red carpet. Carly Mallenbaum, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2020 Turner, 23, was clad in sleek black dress and festive headpiece while Joe, 30, wore a similarly dark and dapper suit. Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE.com, 1 Jan. 2020 Both Jim and Deacon looked dapper in their suits, and Ava totally stunned in a lace dress which was complemented by her loose waves. Megan Stein, Country Living, 14 Dec. 2019 In a bright neon green, Lil Nas X looked dapper, styling his cropped jacket with a bold zebra-print top underneath. Vogue, 25 Nov. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dapper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dapyr, from Middle Dutch dapper quick, strong; akin to Old High German tapfar heavy, Old Church Slavonic debelŭ thick

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of dapper was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near dapper

Cite this Entry

“Dapper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dapper. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dapper

adjective
dap·​per ˈdap-ər How to pronounce dapper (audio)
1
: being neat and trim in dress or appearance : spruce
2
: being alert and lively in movement and manners

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