spiff
/spɪf/noun, verb
spiff is spelled S-P-I-F-F: 5 letters. It appears about once in every 14 million words in written English, the 113,022nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, spiff means “Attractiveness or charm in dress, appearance, or manner” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of spiff is spiffs.
How many letters and syllables are in spiff?
| Letters | 5: S-P-I-F-F |
|---|---|
| In writing | about once in every 14 million words; the 113,022nd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is spiff?
Spiff appears about once in every 14 million words in written English, the 113,022nd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce spiff?
- /spɪf/
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-spiff.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of spiff
- more spiff comparative
- most spiff superlative
- spiffs plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- spiffing participle, present
- spiffed participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does spiff mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
Attractiveness or charm in dress, appearance, or manner.
Without a diploma, he relies on spiff alone to climb the corporate ladder.
- 2
archaicslangA well-dressed man; a swell.
- 3
slangA bonus or other remuneration, given for reaching a sales goal or promoting the goods of a particular manufacturer. Originally from textile retailing, a percentage given for selling off surplus or out-of-fashion stock, of which the sales person could offer part as a discount to a customer.
- 4
colloquialAlternative form of spliff (“hand-rolled marijuana cigarette”).
verb
- 1
informal(usually with up or out) To make spiffy (attractive, polished, or up-to-date)
- 2
slangTo reward (a salesperson) with a spiff or bonus.
- 3
slangTo attach a spiff or bonus to the selling of (a product)
adjective
- 1
archaicNeat, smartly dressed, attractive.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Spiff in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | gute Aufmachung, adrettes Auftreten, Herausgeputztheit , gut gekleideter Mann , Verkaufsprämie , herausputzen |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does spiff come from?
Unknown. See etymology discussion at spiffy.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).