Meaning & use
classy
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Meanings
adjectivecomparableinformalapproving
Stylish and elegant in a way that shows good taste and quiet confidence.
Grammar: Comparable: a classier hotel, the classiest in town.
Patterns
- a classy place
- look classy
She wore a simple, classy black dress to the dinner.
They stayed in a classy hotel overlooking the harbor.
His handwritten thank-you note was a classy gesture.
adjectivecomparableinformalapproving
Showing grace and fairness in how a person treats others, especially in a difficult moment.
Grammar: Often describes an action: a classy move, a classy thing to do.
Patterns
- a classy move
- classy of someone
It was classy of her to congratulate the winner.
He kept calm and answered with a classy reply.
Sending flowers was a classy way to apologize.
Word forms
| comparative | classier |
|---|---|
| superlative | classiest |
Common combinations
- classy restaurant
- We booked a table at a classy restaurant for our anniversary.
- classy move
- Thanking his rival was a classy move.
- look classy
- Add a scarf and you'll look classy.
- classy touch
- Cloth napkins add a classy touch.
- classy act
- She handled the news with a classy act of humility.
Synonyms and how they differ
- elegant
- Elegant is more formal and suits graceful design or movement, while classy sounds chattier and often praises behavior too.
- stylish
- Stylish stresses fashionable looks, but classy suggests lasting good taste rather than trends.
- sophisticated
- Sophisticated implies experience and refinement, whereas classy is simpler and more everyday.
- posh
- Posh is British and can hint at upper-class status or pretension, which classy does not.
Opposites
Word family
- class noun
- high quality or stylish excellence, as in a person with class
- classily adverb
- in a stylish, graceful way
- classiness noun
- the quality of being classy
Commonly confused: classy or classic? classy or classical?
classy vs classic
Classic means of lasting quality or a standard example, while classy describes stylish good taste.
classy vs classical
Classical refers to ancient Greek and Roman culture or traditional forms in the arts, not to a stylish look.
Practice
Which word is closest in meaning to classy in 'a classy outfit'?
Choose one answer.
A classy outfit is tasteful and elegant; messy and cheap are negative, and ancient describes age.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “classy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.