chiffon
Americannoun
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a sheer fabric of silk, nylon, or rayon in plain weave.
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any women's dress ornament, as ribbon or lace.
adjective
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(of dresses, scarves, etc.) resembling or made of chiffon.
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(in cooking) having a light, frothy texture, as certain pies and cakes containing beaten egg whites.
noun
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a fine transparent or almost transparent plain-weave fabric of silk, nylon, etc
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rare (often plural) feminine finery
adjective
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made of chiffon
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(of soufflés, pies, cakes, etc) having a very light fluffy texture
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of chiffon
1755–65; < French, equivalent to chiffe rag (< Arabic shiff sheer fabric) + -on noun suffix
Explanation
Chiffon is a fabric that’s light and silky. You have probably seen a slip or a dress made out of chiffon. Chiffon is made of silk, nylon, or rayon. It is airy and sheer and is therefore used in making lingerie and some types of dresses and blouses. If you want a rough, tough fabric, chiffon isn’t the way to go. Chiffon is flimsy, pretty, and lightweight. Ironically, it comes from a French word for a rag, which would be an insult to a nice chiffon dress.
Vocabulary lists containing chiffon
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English Words Derived from French, List 7
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The Night Diary
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Did you hear what he said?” the woman asked, impeccably dressed in a red and black chiffon evening gown.
From Salon • May 22, 2026
All eyes were on the soon-to-be princess as she stepped out of a Rolls-Royce in a glittering red chiffon gown.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 2026
It seems many Hollywood stars this year were feeling empowered as chiffon, lace and tulle were in plentiful supply at the Oscars.
From BBC • Mar. 8, 2025
Certain pieces are intended to be lightweight—like flowy chiffon tops, delicate lace skirts, or tops built for layering.
From Slate • Dec. 28, 2024
I’ve seen this dress—a sea-foam-green sequined bodice with a chiffon skirt—so many times that it’s not even pretty anymore.
From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
