dowdy

/ˈdaʊdi/

Other forms: dowdiest; dowdies; dowdier

Someone dowdy dresses badly and has a shabby, unstylish appearance. If you can’t remember the last time you went shopping, beware, you may be dowdy.

People tend to use the word dowdy mostly to describe women, in particular older women. In addition, it not only means shabbily dressed, but also relates specifically to the idea of style, or rather the lack of it. Applied to clothing, it also means out of date, in an old-fashioned, dull sort of way. Wild 1970s-style love beads may be out of style, but they can never be called dowdy! A sensible gray tweed skirt or the person wearing it? Most likely dowdy!

Definitions of dowdy

1. adjective

   lacking in smartness or taste
   “a dowdy grey outfit”

   “a clean and sunny but completely dowdy room”

   synonyms:

   styleless, unstylish

   lacking in style or elegance
2. adjective

   primly out of date
   synonyms: frumpish, frumpy

   unfashionable, unstylish

   not in accord with or not following current fashion
3. noun

   deep-dish apple dessert covered with a rich crust
   synonyms: pandowdy

   type of:

   pastry

   any of various baked foods made of dough or batter