SKIP TO CONTENT

nifty

/ˈnɪfti/
/ˈnɪfti/
IPA guide

Other forms: niftiest; niftily; niftier

Something that's nifty is really great. You might tell your mom that the Hawaiian themed decorations for your dad's surprise party look nifty.

Nifty is informal and a little old fashioned, but it's a perfect way to compliment a cute outfit or express your excitement about your little sister's new roller skates. If a friend comments on your nifty tap dance routine, she thinks it's swell. Nifty has been around as a colloquial term for "stylish or smart" since the 1860s, possibly from theater slang.

Definitions of nifty
  1. adjective
    very good
    good
    having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘nifty'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family