Frumpier

/ˈfrʌmpiər/ adjective

Definition

Comparative form of frumpy; more dowdy, drab, or unfashionable in appearance.

Etymology

From 'frumpy' (adjective formed from 'frump' with the suffix '-y') plus the comparative suffix '-er.' This follows standard English rules for comparing adjectives.

Kelly Says

Comparing people's fashion sense with 'frumpier' and 'frumpiest' is a perfect example of how language encodes social hierarchy and judgment—English gives us grammatical tools to rank-order people by appearance standards, which says something about what our language considers important.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Comparative form of 'frump,' continuing the gendered judgment embedded in the base term.

Inclusive Usage

If comparing clothing styles, use neutrally; avoid comparative judgments of people's appearance.

Inclusive Alternatives

["less fashionable","more outdated"]

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