neat

1 of 3

adjective

ˈnēt 

neater; neatest

1

: free from dirt and disorder : habitually clean and orderly

kept her room neat

2

a

: marked by skill or ingenuity : adroit

a neat trick

b

: precise, systematic

mathematics … retains the neat exactness of the surgeon's knife

—Bertrand Russell

3

informal : very pleasant, fun, or enjoyable : wonderful, excellent

—used as a generalized term of enthusiastic approval

had a neat time!

What a neat idea!

We met some neat people at the party.

4

a

: free from admixture or dilution (see dilute entry 1 sense 3) : straight

neat brandy

neat cement

b

: free from irregularity : smooth

neat silk

5

: marked by tasteful simplicity

a neat outfit

6

: net

neat profit

neatly adverb

neatness noun

neat

2 of 3

adverb

1

: in a neat manner

his hair combed back neat

—J. M. Cain

2

: without admixture or dilution : straight

neat

3 of 3

noun

plural neat or neats

: the common domestic bovine (Bos taurus)

Synonyms

Adjective

• antiseptic
• bandbox
• crisp
• groomed
• kempt
• orderly
• picked up
• prim
• shipshape
• smug
• snug
• tidied
• tidy
• trig
• trim
• uncluttered
• well-groomed

Examples of neat in a Sentence

Adjective

He keeps his apartment neat and clean.

The store is always busy but they manage to keep the shelves stocked and neat.

a nice neat pile of magazines

Fold the paper to make a neat edge.

a neat man who always wore a suit

He's got a neat way of memorizing information.

There is, unfortunately, no neat solution to the problem.

She's a neat person who has traveled a lot.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In a way, this meme draws together disparate threads that have impacted the political discourse over the last few days into one neat package. —Callum Booth, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

International politics are too complicated for neat binaries. —Daniel Depetris, Twin Cities, 3 Nov. 2024

Adverb

This lot also includes a neat-looking one-button joystick and several cassettes, including what appears to be a Star Wars game. —Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 24 Mar. 2023

Al on the microphone is a quality Scotch, poured neat. —Jason Gay, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Adverb

Middle French net, from Latin nitidus bright, neat, from nitēre to shine; probably akin to Middle Irish níam luster

Noun

Middle English neet, from Old English nēat; akin to Old High German nōz head of cattle, Old English nēotan to make use of, Lithuanian nauda use

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Adverb

circa 1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing neat

• neat and tidy
• neat freak
• neat's-foot oil

Kids Definition

neat

adjective

ˈnēt

1

: being orderly and clean : tidy

a neat roommate

a neat closet

2

: not mixed or diluted : straight sense 3d

neat cement

3

: marked by tasteful simplicity

neat furnishings

4

: marked by skill or ingenuity : adroit

a neat dive

5

informal : fine entry 3 sense 4, splendid

had a neat time

neatly adverb

neatness noun

Etymology

Adjective

from earlier neat "bright, shining," from early French net (same meaning), from Latin nitidus (same meaning), from nitēre "to shine" — related to net entry 3

Word Origin

Today a popular use of the word neat is to mean "fine, splendid." It is a use that does not appear to have much in common with earlier meanings of the word such as "tidy" or "undiluted." But in its newest sense of "splendid," something that is "neat" might be thought of as a brilliant or shining example of the best of its kind. And this idea is very close to the origin of the word. Neat first began to be used in English about 400 years ago. It was borrowed from the early French word net, which in turn was taken from Latin nitidus, meaning "bright, shining." At first neat was used in English with the same meaning, as in "a neat new metal pin." This original sense in time fell out of use. But the idea of something bright and clean and sparkling and new gave us other meanings. One of these is the sense of "tidy," as in "a neat room or desk." Perhaps the idea of something clean also gave rise to the sense of neat meaning "not mixed or diluted" with anything. The idea of "tidy" certainly must have been the basis of the sense of "marked by tasteful simplicity." And since all of these senses suggest something that is viewed as ideal, it is easy to understand that they should lead to the newest sense of neat, meaning "splendid." When first used in English, splendid also meant "shining," coming from a Latin verb meaning "to shine."