0 a person who is or was a student at a preparatory school (= private school that prepares students for college), or someone who dresses in the traditional style of such students:
As part of the "preppie" movement of the 1980s, be like gained prestige as a trendy and socially desirable way to voice a speaker's inner experience.
Preppie style is more colorful, especially in spring and summer.
In this regard there may be significant overlap with the preppie stereotype.
Members of high-status (preppie, popular) groups often interact with many people, but most of these relationships are superficial and instrumental; interpersonal connections are used to establish and maintain social status.
