What does "dandy" mean?
A man very concerned about his physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies, pursued with the appearance of nonchalance in a cult of self.
Dandy
/ˈdæn.di/ adj, name, noun, slang
adj, name, noun, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A man very concerned about his physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies, pursued with the appearance of nonchalance in a cult of self.
- Grammar: dandy is listed as adj, name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: beau, fop, dude, fashion plate.
- Useful contrasts: awful, earnest exclamation, inferior.
- Usage evidence: In contrast to his "not bad looks but seems a bit of a dandy" appearance, he didn't have a girlfriend and he wasn't particularly fast with the ladies.
How to use "dandy"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "dandy" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "dandy" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "dandy" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "dandy" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "dandy" is acting as adj, name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "beau" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "dandy", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A man very concerned about his physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies, pursued with the appearance of nonchalance in a cult of self.
"The gallant young Indian dandy at home on furlough — immense dandies these — chained and moustached — driving in tearing cabs, the pillars of the theatres, living at West End Hotels, — […]"
- 2 A boatman, a rower. India
"Our Dandees (or boatmen) boyled their rice."
- 3 a sailing vessel with two masts; a small mizzen is aft of the rudderpost wordnet
- 4 Something excellent in its class.
- 5 A Shaiva mendicant who carries a small rod. India
"...the Dandis, distinguished by carrying a small dand or wand..."
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 a man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance wordnet
- 7 A yawl, or a small after-sail on a yawl. British
- 8 An open sedan chair formed by suspending a rudimentary frame or strong cloth from a pole or set of poles. India
"1870, Constance Frederica Gordon-Cumming, Good Words, p. 135:"
- 9 A dandy roller.
- 10 A small glass of whisky. Ireland, UK, archaic, slang
"Somebody quite as notorious as Brummell, but whose follies have been far more mischievous; whose eloquence is great, but certainly not always refined; and to whose health many a dandy of whisky has been tossed off."
- 11 A horse-drawn railway carriage used on some branch lines. historical
"Other notable instances of horse-drawn vehicles for passenger services were the dandies used on the two-mile branch to Inchture of the Perth-Dundee line of the Caledonian Railway […], and the 2½-mile branch of the North British Railway from Drumburgh to Port Carlisle. […] One of the Port Carlisle dandies was preserved at Waverley Station, Edinburgh, for several years, but is now in the Railway Museum at York."
Adjective
- 1 Like a dandy, foppish.
- 2 Very good; better than expected but not as good as could be.
"That's all fine and dandy, but how much does it cost?"
- 3 Excellent; first-rate.
"What a dandy little laptop you have."
Adjective
- 1 excellent wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
- 2 Clipping of Dandenong. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, informal, singular
- 3 The Dandenong Ranges. in-plural, informal
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"In contrast to his "not bad looks but seems a bit of a dandy" appearance, he didn't have a girlfriend and he wasn't particularly fast with the ladies."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "dandy"?
Common synonyms include: beau, fop, dude, fashion plate, fashionable, gallant.
How do you use "dandy" in a sentence?
In contrast to his "not bad looks but seems a bit of a dandy" appearance, he didn't have a girlfriend and he wasn't particularly fast with the ladies.
How do you pronounce "dandy"?
Pronounced /ˈdæn.di/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Borrowed from Scots dandy (“a fop; one who is well-dressed”). Of uncertain origin. Possibly from Dandy, a diminutive of Andrew, yet the Scots word is used also in reference to women. Alternatively, possibly a back-formation of Scots dandilly, dandillie (“one who is spoiled or pampered; a "pet"”). Compare English dandle and dander.
Etymology 2
From Hindi डंडी (ḍaṇḍī, “rod, pole”), from Sauraseni Prakrit 𑀟𑀁𑀟𑀺𑀕𑀸 (ḍaṃḍigā), from Sanskrit दण्डिका (daṇḍikā), from दण्ड (daṇḍa) + -इका (-ikā).