trendy
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
All four words describe something that people like because of its appearance or current appeal, but they differ in tone and durability. 'Fashionable' is the most neutral and enduring — a fashionable coat from five years ago may still look good today. 'Stylish' focuses on the owner's good taste rather than the calendar; a stylish person can be stylish in any era. 'Chic' is more upscale and European in flavour, suggesting sophisticated elegance (e.g. a chic Parisian apartment). 'Cool' is the most subjective and informal — something can be cool among a small group without being mainstream at all. 'Trendy,' by contrast, ties its appeal directly to the current moment: a trendy jacket is hot this season but may feel dated next year. If you want a safe, neutral compliment, use 'fashionable' or 'stylish'; if you acknowledge that the trend may pass, 'trendy' fits.
Common collocations
Etymology
Formed by adding the suffix '-y' (meaning 'having the quality of') to the noun 'trend,' which originally referred to the way something bends or turns (from Old English 'trendan' — to turn or revolve). By the 19th century, 'trend' had come to mean the general direction of a movement or development. The adjective 'trendy' first appeared in the 1960s, a decade when fashion cycles speeded up and people began to talk about following 'trends' as a social activity. The noun use (referring to a person) appeared a short time later.