Modish
/ˈmoʊdɪʃ/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Modish describes something or someone that looks modern and follows the current fashion styles. It is used to say that a person’s clothes, ideas, or behavior are trendy and popular at the moment.
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⚡ See It in Action
Very fashionable or stylish according to current trends
- •She wore a modish dress to the party that everyone admired.
- •The café has a modish design with modern furniture and bright colors.
- •His modish haircut made him stand out among his friends.
Sometimes used to describe ideas or behavior that follow current popular trends
- •The modish idea of working from home became popular last year.
- •They adopted a modish approach to marketing their new product.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'modish' like 'fashionable' (a more common word), but often with a sense of being very up-to-date or sometimes a little showy
- ✓Picture a person wearing the newest clothes you see in magazines or on TV, someone who looks like they just came from a fashion show
- ✓It's the feeling you get when you see someone with a perfect, stylish outfit that everyone wants to copy
- ✓Sounds like 'MODE-ish' → imagine someone in the 'mode' (fashion mode) always changing to the newest style
- ✓Think of celebrities or influencers who always wear the latest clothes and set new trends
- ✓NOT like 'old-fashioned' (behind the times), modish is all about being current and trendy
- ✓NOT like 'classic' (simple and timeless), modish is often more about what is popular right now
- ✓NOT like 'casual' (relaxed and simple), modish often means more careful and stylish dressing
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Trendy: very popular and new (Use when you want to say something is popular now, often with a casual tone)
- •Stylish: having good style or taste (Use when focusing on good appearance, not just popularity)
- •Fashionable: following current fashion (Use in most situations as a general word for modish)
- •Chic: elegant and fashionable (Use when something is stylish in a simple and elegant way)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: root 'mod' (from Latin 'modus' meaning measure, manner, or fashion) + suffix '-ish' (makes adjectives meaning 'like' or 'related to')
- •Etymology: From Latin 'modus' meaning 'measure' or 'manner,' through French 'mode' meaning 'fashion'
- •Historical development: First used in English in the early 1700s to describe things that are in fashion or style
- •Modern usage: Used to describe clothing, ideas, or behavior that is very fashionable, sometimes with a slightly old-fashioned or literary tone
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How do you decide if something is modish or just ordinary style?
•Can something be modish for a short time and then become old-fashioned? How does this happen?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.She wore a modish outfit because she wanted to ___ the latest fashion trends.
2.The modish design of the restaurant made it popular among ___ people.
3.Unlike classic styles, modish clothes often change ___ and quickly.
4.He tried to look modish, but his clothes were actually a bit ___.
5.When something is modish, it usually means many people ___ it at the moment.
6.The company adopted a modish marketing strategy to ___ younger customers.
7.Modish styles are often seen in magazines and on ___ shows.