Trendy describes something fashionable and popular right now, but with the sense that it probably won't last very long. When everyone suddenly starts wearing the same style of sneakers or using the same slang phrase, that thing is trendy.

The word carries a hint of temporariness. A trendy restaurant might have lines out the door this month but empty tables next year. Trendy haircuts, trendy apps, and trendy toys all share this quality: they capture everyone's attention intensely, then fade as the next trend arrives.

Some people chase trends eagerly, always wanting whatever's hot at the moment. Others prefer classic choices that don't go in and out of style. There's no right answer, but it's worth knowing the difference between something trendy and something with lasting value. That vintage leather jacket your grandfather wore might never be trendy, but it has stayed stylish for decades.

You'll sometimes hear trendy used with mild criticism, suggesting something is popular just because it's popular, not because it's actually good. If someone dismisses a book as “just trendy,” they're implying it got attention for superficial reasons. But plenty of trendy things genuinely deserve their moment in the spotlight.