An Americanism first recorded in 1865 in the writing of Bret Harte. Origin uncertain. Possibly a clipped and altered form of magnificent, or derived from snifty with loss of the initial s (perhaps from phrases like 'those snifty hats'). The word entered American slang as a general term of approval for things clever or stylish.
What does nifty mean?
Nifty means either cleverly effective and handy, or stylish and attractive. It is an informal term of approval, chiefly American.
Where does the word nifty come from?
First recorded in 1865 by Bret Harte, nifty's origin is uncertain. It may be a clipped form of 'magnificent' or derived from 'snifty' with the initial s dropped.
Is nifty an adjective?
Yes. Nifty is an adjective. It has regular comparative and superlative forms: niftier and niftiest.
Is nifty British or American?
Chiefly American. It originated in American slang in the 1860s and is more common in American English than British English.
What are synonyms for nifty?
For the clever sense: handy, ingenious, slick, smart. For the stylish sense: snazzy, sharp, dapper, chic.