Fop

A fop is a man who is excessively concerned with his appearance and clothes, often to the point of being vain or affected. He typically adopts an overly elaborate or flamboyant style, prioritizing fashion and social display above substance or genuine character. The term implies a degree of superficiality and shallowness, often suggesting a lack of intellectual depth or meaningful pursuits. Fops are concerned with following trends and maintaining a polished exterior, sometimes appearing artificial or ridiculous to others.

Fop meaning with examples

• The duke, a notorious fop, spent hours each morning meticulously arranging his cravat and adjusting his powdered wig before venturing out. He believed that his impeccable appearance was key to his social standing. His wealth allowed him to indulge in the finest silks and tailoring, ensuring he was always seen in the latest fashionable attire. His focus, however, frequently obscured any meaningful substance or genuine charm.
• Lady Beatrice scoffed at the assembly, filled with fops preening and gossiping about the latest gown designs. She preferred witty conversation and intellectual debate to the frivolous concerns of the fashionable set. She considered their elaborate outfits and affected manners to be distractions from more important matters. The superficiality and shallow charm of such individuals, she thought, were highly unappealing.
• The play satirized the court, filled with fops obsessed with elaborate costumes and affected speech. The playwright poked fun at their obsession with appearances, highlighting their lack of genuine emotion or intelligence. The audience roared with laughter at the characters' vain attempts to impress others, exposed as being foolish and self-absorbed by their behaviour, showing their true superficiality.
• Although he came from a line of distinguished military men, his son was nothing short of a fop. Spending all his time worrying about the cut of his coat. The father hoped that some amount of military discipline would 'roughen' his son, but no such luck came about. However, the son continued to be more obsessed with the colour of his gloves than following the basic commands of his officers.
• Despite his best efforts to appear dignified and sophisticated, the young heir came across as an immature fop. He often tried to be a person of refinement and a socialite, but the superficiality of the image came through, his vanity was transparent, and many would see his superficiality and shallow character for what they were - A Fop!