dressier; dressiest
1
: showy in dress
2
: stylish, smart
dressy clothes
3
: requiring or characterized by fancy or formal dress
a dressy affair
dressiness noun

Examples of dressy in a Sentence

Those shoes are so dressy, I rarely wear them. She wore an outfit that was much too dressy for the occasion.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Striking that right balance between dressy and dressed down is certainly an art—but luckily there’s a handful of celebrities who’ve recently nailed the look. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2025 New stilettos fitting with the feminine silhouettes and dressy looks. Sandra Salibian, WWD, 17 Mar. 2025 All the new high heels and lady-esque bags supported the dressy trend. Rhonda Richford, WWD, 12 Mar. 2025 As far as style goes, they’re considered slightly dressier than classic Birkenstock flats. Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dressy

Word History

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dressy was in 1768

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Cite this Entry

“Dressy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dressy. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

dressy

adjective
dressier; dressiest
1
: showy in dress
2
: suitable for formal occasions
dressy clothes

More from Merriam-Webster on dressy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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