adjective
nifty
NIHF-tee
adjective
1
Impressively clever, useful, or stylish.
"She showed me a nifty trick for folding fitted sheets."
"That's a nifty little gadget for opening jars."
How to Use Nifty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA casual word for something clever, handy, or cool.
When to use it
Informal — fine in conversation, too casual for formal writing.
Common pairings
a nifty trick
a nifty gadget
nifty little device
Word Forms
niftier comparative, nifties plural, niftiest superlative
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She showed me a _____ trick for folding fitted sheets.
Etymology
Origin unclear — first recorded in American slang in the 1860s, possibly linked to theatrical slang or a regional word meaning "peeved."