fops

/fɒps/ literary

Say it: FOPS

noun Plural of fop; men who are excessively and often ridiculously concerned with their clothes, appearance, and manners.
The royal court was filled with preening fops in powdered wigs and silk stockings.
🇪🇸 petimetres

📖 Seen in the wild

But among the fops there was one officer I especially could not stand.
collected by @missha

✏️ fops in a sentence

He dismissed the modern male influencers as little more than digital fops, obsessed with their online image.
The ballroom was a sea of silk and lace, where powdered fops whispered gossip behind their fans.
Shakespeare's Osric is a classic example of the courtly fops the playwright loved to satirize.
He had no time for the fops and flatterers who crowded the king's chambers.
The 18th-century 'macaronis' were the fops of their day, known for their extravagant fashion imported from the continent.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

dandies peacocks coxcombs popinjays beaux exquisites macaronis

dandies · suggests a more refined and influential sense of style, whereas fops implies more foolishness.

peacocks · emphasizes vanity and a desire to show off, like the bird's display.

coxcombs · an older term that strongly implies conceit and foolishness.

popinjays · highlights a strutting, vain, and talkative nature.

Opposites: slovens, slob, ruffians, louts

🌱 Where it comes from

The origin of 'fop' is uncertain, first appearing in the 15th century to mean 'a fool'. By the late 17th century, its meaning narrowed to describe a man foolishly obsessed with fashion, reflecting the extravagant styles of the English Restoration court. The word became a tool for social commentary, satirizing vanity and affectation.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

preening fopsvain fopsa group of fopscourtly fops

'Fops' is a derogatory and somewhat archaic term. While understood today, it's most often used in historical or literary contexts to describe men from past eras, like the 17th and 18th centuries. Using it to describe a modern person can sound theatrical or overly critical, implying not just an interest in fashion but also foolishness and vanity.

Word family: fop, foppery, foppish, foppishly, foppishness

💬 Quick answers

What does 'fops' mean?

'Fops' is the plural of fop, referring to men who are overly and foolishly concerned with their appearance, clothes, and manners. The term carries a strong connotation of vanity and silliness.

What's the difference between fops and dandies?

While both terms describe fashion-conscious men, 'fops' implies foolishness and excessive vanity. 'Dandies' can suggest a more refined, intelligent, and influential sense of style, though it can also be used critically.

Is 'fops' an insult?

Yes, 'fops' is a derogatory term. It's used to criticize men for being vain, superficial, and ridiculously preoccupied with their looks.

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