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Glite Dictionary
natty

natty

2 8.1
Dressed in a neat and stylish way
  • adjective
  • /ˈnæti/
translation icon : 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
57 3.5

Elegant and fashionable in a simple, modern way

is smart fashionable in general rather than specifically elegant high fashion
snappy
vsnatty
  • Informal
17 3.8

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

is general smart and fashionable rather than only crisp neat
spiffy
vsnatty
  • Informal
16 7.8

Neat and stylish in appearance

is about being fashionable overall, not only neat dressing
dapper
vsnatty
16 6.2

Neat and stylish in the way a man dresses

is general smart fashion for any person rather than male only
dressy
vsnatty
12 3.6

Suitable for formal events like a wedding or party

is smart fashionable in everyday style rather than mainly formal wear
jaunty
vsnatty
10 6.3

Lively and cheerful in a confident, stylish way

is mainly smart fashionable appearance without the lively, cheerful manner
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
dashing
vsnatty
1 4.3

Attractive and stylish in a confident, lively way

is about neat fashionable appearance, not focused on lively confidence
spruce
vsnatty
4.8

Looking neat and stylish

is general fashionable style not limited to refreshed neatness
zooty
vsnatty
  • Archaic
9.9

Looks very fashionable and showy, often wearing bright clothes

is smart and fashionable without the strong showy or flashy quality
hotsy-totsy
vsnatty
  • Archaic
9.9

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

is smart fashionable more neutral and less playful or slangy

Antonyms

shabby
33 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
57 3.5
dapper
16 6.2
natty
2 8.1
smart
127 2.4
neat
144 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'.