style

1 of 3

noun

ˈstī(-ə)l 

1

a

: a particular manner or technique by which something is done, created, or performed

a unique style of horseback riding

the classical style of dance

b

: a distinctive manner of expression (as in writing or speech)

writes with more attention to style than to content

the flowery style of 18th century prose

c

: a distinctive manner or custom of behaving or conducting oneself

the formal style of the court

his style is abrasive

also : a particular mode of living

in high style

2

: a distinctive quality, form, or type of something

a new dress style

the Greek style of architecture

3

a

: the state of being popular : fashion

clothes that are always in style

b

: fashionable elegance

c

: beauty, grace, or ease of manner or technique

an awkward moment she handled with style

4

: a convention with respect to spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and typographic arrangement and display followed in writing or printing

5

a

: stylus

b

: gnomon sense 1b

c

: the filiform usually elongated part of the pistil bearing a stigma at its apex see flower illustration

d

: a slender elongated process (such as a bristle) on an animal

6

: designation, title

styleless

ˈstī(-ə)l-ləs 

adjective

stylelessness noun

style

2 of 3

verb

styled; styling; styles

transitive verb

1

: to give a particular style to: such as

a

: to give a particular shape to (hair)

She cuts and styles her own hair.

His hair was styled in thick spikes pointing skyward and he was wearing a leather jacket and jeans. "I looked like a punk rocker," he admits.

—Leigh Anne Williams

b

: to design and make (something, such as clothing) in a particular style or for a particular purpose

Our 30"-long skirt is flatteringly styled with front pleats and a plain back.

—Land's End catalog

Kids on … BMX bikes styled like motorcycles …

—Margaret Loeb

The coats, even those presumably styled for hunting, are woefully too short …

—Donald Atwell Zoll

c

: to wear (something, such as an article of clothing) as part of a particular fashion look (see look entry 2 sense 2c)

… these loafers … can easily be styled with jeans, khakis, or shorts alike, depending on the season.

—Ali Smith

Earlier this month, Hailey Bieber also headed to Vegas in a lime green trucker hat, styling it with a white tank and classic jeans.

—Christian Allaire

also : to select and arrange the clothing, hair, makeup, etc. of (someone) to create a particular fashion look

[Kylie] Jenner is styled in a dress by Anthony Vaccarello from Saint Laurent's 2020 fall collection.

—Danielle Drake-Flam

d

: to decorate (something, such as a room) in a particular way

… a … boutique hotel where each room is styled after a different country or region.

—Jenny White

2

: to call or designate by an identifying term : name

Jay King styles himself as the Indiana Jones of turquoise, telling tales of far-flung mines as he peddles chunky jewelry.

—Belinda Luscombe

… she styles herself as an entrepreneur looking to establish a "members-only club" on the model of Soho House.

—Sadie Stein

see also self-styled

styler noun

plural stylers

-style

3 of 3

adjective combining form or adverb combining form

: being in the style of

a Beaujolais-style wine

Synonyms

Noun

• fashion
• locution
• manner
• mode
• phraseology
• tone
• vein

Verb

• baptize
• call
• christen
• clepe [archaic]
• denominate
• designate
• dub
• entitle
• label
• name
• nominate
• term
• title

Choose the Right Synonym for style

fashion, style, mode, vogue, fad, rage, craze mean the usage accepted by those who want to be up-to-date.

fashion is the most general term and applies to any way of dressing, behaving, writing, or performing that is favored at any one time or place.

the current fashion

style often implies a distinctive fashion adopted by people of taste.

a media baron used to traveling in style

mode suggests the fashion of the moment among those anxious to appear elegant and sophisticated.

slim bodies are the mode at this resort

vogue stresses the wide acceptance of a fashion.

short skirts are back in vogue

fad suggests caprice in taking up or in dropping a fashion.

last year's fad is over

rage and craze stress intense enthusiasm in adopting a fad.

Cajun food was the rage nearly everywhere for a time

crossword puzzles once seemed just a passing craze but have lasted

Examples of style in a Sentence

Noun

I don't like the flowery style of his writing.

She has a unique style of singing.

a baseball pitcher with an unusual style

She writes with more attention to style than to content.

The room was decorated in modern style.

The car is available in several different styles.

the Greek style of architecture

The range of clothing styles has become more varied.

His management style is abrasive.

Verb

She cuts and styles hair.

She's having her hair styled tomorrow.

a book styled for a general audience

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

What’s a little Agatha Christie–style poisoning among the ultrarich and everyone else when prestige is on the line? —Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024

Aligning your values with your leadership style and organizational goals is essential for authentic leadership. —Brent Gleeson, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

The video, which dropped early Tuesday, is uncharacteristically low-budget for the singer, depicting her in a variety of settings, usually in a red swimsuit styled like Anderson’s. —Jem Aswad, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024

Kardashian styled the necklace differently, shortening the pearl chain significantly, and wearing it alongside a stack of jewels, including a six-strand pearl choker. —Leah Dolan, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English stile, style, from Latin stilus spike, stem, stylus, style of writing; perhaps akin to Latin instigare to goad — more at stick

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing style

• cafeteria-style
• counter-style
• cramp one's style
• family style
• hair style
• high style
• home-style
• in high style
• in style
• like someone's style
• not someone's style
• old style
• out of style
• woman/man of style

Kids Definition

style

1 of 2 noun

ˈstī(ə)l 

1

a

: a way of expressing oneself (as in speaking or writing)

b

: a particular way by which something is done, created, or performed

a unique style of horseback riding

the classical style of dance

2

a

: stylus sense 1

b

: a column built so that its shadow indicates the time of day

c

: the narrow long middle part of the pistil of a flower which bears the stigma at its tip

3

a

: the state of being popular : fashion

clothes that are always in style

b

: fashionable elegance

c

: beauty, grace, or ease of doing something

handled the awkward moment with style

4

: the custom or plan followed in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and arrangement and display of type

styleless

-ləs 

adjective

style

2 of 2 verb

styled; styling

1

: to call by an identifying term : name

style themselves scientists

2

a

: to give a particular style to

cuts and styles hair

b

: to design or make in agreement with an accepted way of doing something

styler noun