Dressy describes clothing that's fancier or more formal than everyday wear. Dressy clothes are what you might wear to a wedding, a nice restaurant, or a school concert where you want to look polished and put-together. A dressy outfit usually means dress shoes instead of sneakers, pressed pants or a skirt instead of jeans, maybe a button-down shirt or a nice dress.

The word sits somewhere between casual and formal. Dressy clothes aren't as relaxed as what you'd wear to play outside, but they're also not as elaborate as a tuxedo or ball gown. When an invitation says “dressy casual,” it means you should look neat and nice without going overboard.

What counts as dressy can change depending on the situation. A polo shirt might be dressy enough for a family dinner but too casual for a fancy party. That shiny pair of shoes in your closet? Those are probably your dressy shoes, the ones you save for special occasions when regular sneakers won't do.