Stylish: Definition, Examples, and Usage Tips

Meaning 1：fashionable (stylish)

stylish 🔊

/ˈstaɪlɪʃ/

adj.

Very fashionable and looking good.

stylish person wearing trendy leather jacket on urban street

fashionable 🔊

➕

/ˈfæʃənəbəl/

adj.

Describes someone or something that is currently popular in fashion and looks attractive, neat, and well-coordinated.

📁 Category：Fashion Trends 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From 'style' (elegance) + suffix '-ish' (having the quality of), meaning 'having style or fashion'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'style' + 'ish' — if your outfit has 'style', then it's stylish.

📖 Example

Everyone at the cafe turned to look when she walked in with her stylish new haircut and sunglasses. 🔊 Everyone at the cafe turned to look when she walked in with her stylish new haircut and sunglasses.

🔗 Collocations

stylish outfit – A fashionable set of clothes worn together

stylish design – An aesthetically pleasing and modern design

stylish haircut – A trendy and neat hairstyle

🔄 Synonyms

chic (adj.) – Elegantly and stylishly fashionable, often with a sense of sophistication.

fashionable (adj.) – Popular at a particular time, following the latest trends.

trendy (adj.) – Very fashionable and up-to-date in style.

🚫 Antonyms

unfashionable (adj.) – Not popular or in style at the present time.

outmoded (adj.) – No longer fashionable or acceptable.

dowdy (adj.) – Lacking style or elegance, shabby and old-fashioned.

🌱 Derivatives

stylishly (adv.) – In a stylish manner.

stylishness (n.) – The quality of being stylish.

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'stilus' (writing instrument), later meaning 'manner of expression'. 'Stylish' emerged in the 18th century to describe conformity to current fashion, especially in clothing. Today it is widely used in fashion magazines and street style photography.