stijl: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighNeutral (used across formal, informal, spoken, and written contexts)
Quick answer
What does “stijl” mean?
A distinctive manner of expression, design, or performance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A distinctive manner of expression, design, or performance; a particular way of doing something that is characteristic of a person, group, period, or place.
A particular design of clothing or accessories; elegance and sophistication; the distinctive conventions or standards of a particular genre or artistic tradition (e.g., Baroque style).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical, with minor differences in fashion contexts and some compound terms. 'Style it out' is more common in UK English.
Connotations
Similar connotations of sophistication, fashionability, and distinctiveness in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK fashion/media contexts (e.g., 'style section'). The verb is equally common.
Grammar
How to Use “stijl” in a Sentence
[Noun] + of + style[Adjective] + stylestyle + [Noun]in + [Possessive] + stylehave + a + [Adjective] + styleVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stijl” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She styled her hair into an elegant chignon for the wedding.
- The magazine styled the shoot with a vintage 1970s theme.
- He expertly styled out the embarrassing situation with a witty remark.
American English
- She styled her hair with a volumizing mousse.
- The interior designer styled the living room in a mid-century modern aesthetic.
- The document was styled according to APA guidelines.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used as a standalone adverb; typically part of compounds like 'style-wise') Style-wise, the event was a success.
American English
- (Rarely used as a standalone adverb) She dresses very New York-style.
adjective
British English
- The style icon arrived at the premiere.
- He made a style-conscious choice with that jacket.
- We need a style guide for the new brand.
American English
- The style section of the newspaper is her favorite.
- They attended a style-focused event during Fashion Week.
- Check the style manual for formatting rules.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to leadership, management, or corporate branding (e.g., 'His collaborative style improved team morale.').
Academic
Refers to methodological approaches, citation formats (APA style), or artistic/literary periods (Gothic style).
Everyday
Most commonly refers to personal appearance, fashion, and way of doing things (e.g., 'I like your style!').
Technical
In computing, refers to formatting (CSS styles); in art history, refers to categorized periods or movements.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stijl”
- Confusing 'style' with 'stile' (a fence step). Using 'style' as a countable noun when uncountable is needed (e.g., 'She has great style' NOT 'She has a great style' in the general sense). Overusing in lieu of more specific words like 'technique' or 'methodology'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. As a general concept (elegance, distinctive appearance), it's uncountable ('She has style'). Referring to a particular type or form, it's countable ('different styles of architecture').
'Fashion' refers to popular trends of the moment, especially in clothing. 'Style' is more personal and enduring—it's one's individual way of expressing oneself, which may or may not follow current fashion.
It means to design, arrange, or present in a particular way. Common objects include hair, clothes, a room, a document, or a product. (e.g., 'She styled the photo shoot', 'He styles himself as a thought leader').
It means to prevent someone from acting freely or enjoying themselves in the way they want to. (e.g., 'Having my parents visiting is really cramping my style.').
A distinctive manner of expression, design, or performance.
Stijl is usually neutral (used across formal, informal, spoken, and written contexts) in register.
Stijl: in British English it is pronounced /staɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /staɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cramp someone's style”
- “in style”
- “like it's going out of style”
- “style it out”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a STYlish person standing by a LEmur. Their STYLE is unique, just like the lemur.
Conceptual Metaphor
STYLE IS A SIGNATURE (uniquely identifying), STYLE IS A GARMENT (something one wears or adopts), STYLE IS A PATH (a chosen way of doing things).
Practice
Quiz
In the context of web design, 'style' most directly refers to: