natty

3 8.1

Dressed in a neat and stylish way

adjective
/ˈnæti/

: elegante

He looked quite natty in his tailored suit and polished shoes.
a natty suit
a natty dresser
a natty fellow

You know, when you when I mean very natty dresser, Yeah, he's a really talented guy, incredibly smart.

Examples

Neighbors outside the apartment building seeing him depart in a tuxedo or a natty, double-breasted summer sport jacket might remark that he was off on a heavy date.

Fiction book (1999)
The lawyer was a natty little fellow in a derby and velvet-collared overcoat.

Fiction book (1993)
I'm off to a very promising job interview which explains my natty attire.

You, Me and Dupree (2006)
His natty gabardine suit was just a little snug around the chest.

Fiction book (1995)
Rudy's a natty dresser.

Fiction book (1997)
A week later, Vernon Probst, with his shock of silver hair, his natty three-piece suit, his timid steps, and his slightly Anglified speech, presented himself at Siggy's counter, waiting his turn.

Fiction book (1991)
For the wedding, she chose a natty dress that turned everyone's heads.
The young man always dresses natty, with perfectly coordinated outfits and accessories.

Synonyms

chic

vsnatty

77 3.5

Elegant and fashionable in a simple, modern way

is smart fashionable in general rather than specifically elegant high fashion

dashing

vsnatty

35 4.3

Attractive and stylish in a confident, lively way

is about neat fashionable appearance, not focused on lively confidence

dapper

vsnatty

20 6.2

Neat and stylish in the way a man dresses

is general smart fashion for any person rather than male only

spiffy

vsnatty

Informal

17 7.8

Neat and stylish in appearance

is about being fashionable overall, not only neat dressing

dressy

vsnatty

13 3.6

Suitable for formal events like a wedding or party

is smart fashionable in everyday style rather than mainly formal wear

jaunty

vsnatty

11 6.3

Lively and cheerful in a confident, stylish way

is mainly smart fashionable appearance without the lively, cheerful manner

snappy

vsnatty

Informal

11 3.8

Stylish and neat in appearance, often because of clothes or hair

is general smart and fashionable rather than only crisp neat

rakish

vsnatty

4 8.4

Having a smart, lively, and slightly bold look or manner

is smart fashionable in a conventional neat way, not boldly daring

spruce

vsnatty

1 4.8

Looking neat and stylish

is general fashionable style not limited to refreshed neatness

hotsy-totsy

vsnatty

Archaic

1 9.9

Having a fashionable, attractive look, like new clothes or a neat room

is smart fashionable more neutral and less playful or slangy

zooty

vsnatty

Archaic

1 9.9

Looks very fashionable and showy, often wearing bright clothes

is smart and fashionable without the strong showy or flashy quality

Antonyms

shabby

31 2.5

Worn and in poor condition because of long use or little care

frumpy

Informal

11 7.3

Clothes or a person that look old-fashioned and not attractive

How Stylish

chic

77 3.5

dapper

20 6.2

natty

3 8.1

smart

18 2.4

neat

123 1.0

Surface Forms

natty positive

Morphology

natty = neat (semi-transparent) = neat + y

Meaning is directly related to 'neat' + the adjectival suffix '-y', but a sound/spelling change and colloquial nuance ('smart'/'dapper') make the relation less obvious to learners.

Etymology

Natty comes from an old Scots word meaning 'neat' or 'trim', and is like the familiar English word neat. So, a natty person is tidy and carefully dressed, which is why the word means 'smart and fashionable'.