fop: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowLiterary, Archaic, Humorous
Quick answer
What does “fop” mean?
A man excessively concerned with his appearance, clothes, and manners in a way that is perceived as foolish and affected.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A man excessively concerned with his appearance, clothes, and manners in a way that is perceived as foolish and affected.
A dandy; a man whose interest in fashion and grooming is taken to a level of frivolous, ostentatious vanity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The word has a historical/literary feel in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes 17th-18th century aristocratic vanity in both, but may be used humorously in modern contexts.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary everyday use in both regions. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical literature and period dramas.
Grammar
How to Use “fop” in a Sentence
be/look like a fopdress like a fopcall someone a fopVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fop” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He had a foppish disregard for practical matters.
- His foppish attire was quite out of place at the building site.
American English
- She found his foppish mannerisms irritating.
- The foppish cuffs on his shirt were ridiculous.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rare, only in historical/literary studies of fashion or satire (e.g., Restoration comedy).
Everyday
Almost never used. If used, it's for humorous or ironic effect.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fop”
- Using it to describe a woman (incorrect).
- Using it in a neutral or positive sense (incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'flop'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very rarely, and usually for humorous or historical effect. It is considered an archaic or literary term.
No. 'Fop' is exclusively male. A similar, though not perfectly equivalent, historical term for a woman would be 'coquette'.
The adjective is 'foppish' (e.g., foppish manners, foppish clothing).
Both are concerned with style. A 'dandy' can imply sophisticated, cutting-edge elegance (sometimes with admiration), while a 'fop' is always foolish, affected, and superficial.
A man excessively concerned with his appearance, clothes, and manners in a way that is perceived as foolish and affected.
Fop is usually literary, archaic, humorous in register.
Fop: in British English it is pronounced /fɒp/, and in American English it is pronounced /fɑːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “foppish airs”
- “fop and a dandy”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a FOP with a POP of lace and perfume, a FOPpish POPinjay.
Conceptual Metaphor
A MAN IS A DECORATIVE OBJECT (focus on surface ornamentation rather than utility).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST description of a 'fop'?