prettify: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Informal to neutral, often slightly pejorative or critical.
Quick answer
What does “prettify” mean?
To make something superficially or artificially pretty, pleasant, or attractive, often implying a superficial or cosmetic improvement that hides underlying flaws.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To make something superficially or artificially pretty, pleasant, or attractive, often implying a superficial or cosmetic improvement that hides underlying flaws.
To attempt to improve the appearance or presentation of something, especially in a way that is considered trivial, excessive, or intended to deceive by covering up problems.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is broadly similar. In British English, there is a slight preference for 'tart up' in informal contexts for a similar meaning. The spelling is consistent.
Connotations
In both, it can be slightly dismissive. In American English, it might more commonly appear in contexts like 'prettified data' or 'prettified reports'.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but understood. Slightly more attested in written American English (corpora).
Grammar
How to Use “prettify” in a Sentence
[Subject] prettifies [Object] (e.g., She prettified the report.)[Object] be prettified by [Agent] (e.g., The reality was prettified by the marketing team.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “prettify” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The council's plans just prettify the high street without tackling the empty shops.
- She spent hours prettifying the spreadsheet for the meeting.
American English
- The presentation prettifies the company's environmental record.
- They prettified the app icon but didn't fix the bugs.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- Not a standard form. Use 'prettified' as participle adjective: 'a prettified version of events'.
American English
- Not a standard form. Use 'prettified' as participle adjective: 'prettified financial statements'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Often used critically about financial reports, marketing materials, or presentations that mask negative realities. 'The quarterly figures were prettified to appease investors.'
Academic
Rare, but can be used in critical analysis of historical narratives, data presentation, or literary descriptions. 'The biography prettifies the subject's controversial early years.'
Everyday
Used for home decoration, personal appearance, or garden design, often with a slight teasing tone. 'I spent the weekend prettifying the balcony with new plants.'
Technical
In computing/UI design, can be neutral: 'The new update prettifies the user interface.' In data science, often pejorative: 'Don't prettify the outliers; show the raw data.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “prettify”
- Using it in a purely positive sense (e.g., 'She prettified herself for the party' is okay, but it hints at artificiality).
- Spelling: 'prettyfy' (incorrect) instead of 'prettify'.
- Overusing it; it's a low-frequency word.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal to neutral. In formal writing, synonyms like 'embellish', 'adorn', or 'gloss over' (depending on the negative nuance) are often preferred.
It can, but there is often an implied slight criticism or focus on superficiality. For a purely positive meaning, 'beautify' or 'decorate' are safer choices.
'Prettification' is the standard, though uncommon, noun (e.g., 'the prettification of the city centre').
Yes, etymologically it is derived from the adjective 'pretty' + the verb-forming suffix '-fy' (meaning 'to make'). It literally means 'to make pretty'.
To make something superficially or artificially pretty, pleasant, or attractive, often implying a superficial or cosmetic improvement that hides underlying flaws.
Prettify: in British English it is pronounced /ˈprɪtɪfaɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈprɪt̬ɪfaɪ/ 'prid-uh-fy'. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To gild the lily (related concept of unnecessary adornment)”
- “To put lipstick on a pig (stronger, more negative equivalent)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: PRETTY + FY (like 'simplify' or 'clarify'). You 'make it pretty' (often in a superficial way).
Conceptual Metaphor
CLEANING/COVERING IS HIDING (Applying a pretty surface is like painting over cracks.)
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'prettify' used with its most common critical nuance?