noun / adjective

yuppie

YUP-ee/ˈjʌpi/

A young urban professional associated with wealth and career ambition.

The young yuppie strides toward her office with an expensive watch and leather briefcase.

A young, sharply dressed urban professional strides toward a city office entrance beside her polished luxury coupe, carrying a leather briefcase and checking an expensive wristwatch.

Etymology

yuppieEnglishyoung city-based professional

Yuppie condenses “young urban professional” into a social label. It soon acquired insulting force, helping explain why it suggests a stereotype of ambition and material success rather than merely age, residence, and occupation.

In context

San Francisco Public Library34:43

it's a hangout for the young professionals we're moving into the neighborhood farther up 16th just past Valencia is another popular yuppie hangout

2008 Litquake "Mysterious Men and Women" at the San Francisco Public Library

More examples

The neighborhood's new cafes cater to wealthy yuppies.
She calls her brother a yuppie because he prizes promotions.
The restaurant attracts a trendy yuppie crowd after work.

Forms

yuppie · yuppies

Similar words

professional: Professional describes skilled work without implying youth, wealth, or ambition.
careerist: Careerist emphasizes personal advancement, not age, location, or wealth.