neat

1 of 3

adjective

ˈnēt How to pronounce neat (audio)
neater; neatest
Synonyms of neatnext
1
: free from dirt and disorder : habitually clean and orderly
kept her room neat
2
a
: marked by skill or ingenuity : adroit
a neat trick
b
: precise, systematic
mathematics … retains the neat exactness of the surgeon's knife—Bertrand Russell
3
informal : very pleasant, fun, or enjoyable : wonderful, excellent
—used as a generalized term of enthusiastic approval
had a neat time!
What a neat idea!
We met some neat people at the party.
4
a
: free from admixture or dilution (see dilute entry 1 sense 3) : straight
neat brandy
neat cement
b
: free from irregularity : smooth
neat silk
5
: marked by tasteful simplicity
a neat outfit
6
: net
neat profit
neatly adverb
neatness noun

neat

2 of 3

adverb

1
: in a neat manner
his hair combed back neat—J. M. Cain
2
: without admixture or dilution : straight

neat

3 of 3

noun

plural neat or neats
: the common domestic bovine (Bos taurus)

Synonyms

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of neat in a Sentence

Adjective He keeps his apartment neat and clean. The store is always busy but they manage to keep the shelves stocked and neat. a nice neat pile of magazines Fold the paper to make a neat edge. a neat man who always wore a suit He's got a neat way of memorizing information. There is, unfortunately, no neat solution to the problem. She's a neat person who has traveled a lot.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
However, experts told McClatchy News that politically motivated attacks often defy neat categorization. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025 Abdi, neat as ever, led us to Fatma’s plot. —David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Adverb
Tito’s Vodka is versatile for cocktails or sipping neat and pairs well with [specific food or mixers]. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025 The cropped shape shows off a leather high-rise skirt from Source Unknown, and looks neat layered over a crisp poplin shirt from J.Crew. —Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for neat

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Adverb

Middle French net, from Latin nitidus bright, neat, from nitēre to shine; probably akin to Middle Irish níam luster

Noun

Middle English neet, from Old English nēat; akin to Old High German nōz head of cattle, Old English nēotan to make use of, Lithuanian nauda use

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Adverb

circa 1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of neat was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing neat

Rhymes for neat

See All Rhymes for neat

Browse Nearby Words

neascus
neat
neat's-foot oil
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Neat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neat. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

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Kids Definition

neat

adjective
ˈnēt
1
: being orderly and clean : tidy
a neat roommate
a neat closet
2
: not mixed or diluted : straight sense 3d
neat cement
3
: marked by tasteful simplicity
neat furnishings
4
: marked by skill or ingenuity : adroit
a neat dive
5
informal : fine entry 3 sense 4, splendid
had a neat time
neatly adverb
neatness noun
Etymology

Adjective

from earlier neat "bright, shining," from early French net (same meaning), from Latin nitidus (same meaning), from nitēre "to shine" — related to net entry 3

Word Origin
Today a popular use of the word neat is to mean "fine, splendid." It is a use that does not appear to have much in common with earlier meanings of the word such as "tidy" or "undiluted." But in its newest sense of "splendid," something that is "neat" might be thought of as a brilliant or shining example of the best of its kind. And this idea is very close to the origin of the word. Neat first began to be used in English about 400 years ago. It was borrowed from the early French word net, which in turn was taken from Latin nitidus, meaning "bright, shining." At first neat was used in English with the same meaning, as in "a neat new metal pin." This original sense in time fell out of use. But the idea of something bright and clean and sparkling and new gave us other meanings. One of these is the sense of "tidy," as in "a neat room or desk." Perhaps the idea of something clean also gave rise to the sense of neat meaning "not mixed or diluted" with anything. The idea of "tidy" certainly must have been the basis of the sense of "marked by tasteful simplicity." And since all of these senses suggest something that is viewed as ideal, it is easy to understand that they should lead to the newest sense of neat, meaning "splendid." When first used in English, splendid also meant "shining," coming from a Latin verb meaning "to shine."

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