dishabille

[ dis-uh-beel, -bee ]

noun

1. the state of being dressed in a careless, disheveled, or disorderly style or manner; undress.
2. a garment worn in undress.
3. a loose morning dress.
4. a disorderly or disorganized state of mind or way of thinking.

dishabille

/ ˌdɪsæˈbiːl /

noun

1. a variant of deshabille

Word History and Origins

Origin of dishabille¹

First recorded in 1665–75; from French déshabillé, noun use of past participle of déshabiller “to undress,” equivalent to dés- negative or reversing prefix; + habiller “to dress”; dis- ¹, habiliment

Example Sentences

As recently as a decade ago, it was a rarity to spot people on Fifth Avenue, in Washington Square Park, riding the subway or milling about at airports in various states of advanced dishabille.

From New York Times

He appeared before the world as if in angry comic dishabille.

From New York Times

“Prince Dain awaits her downstairs in General Madoc’s parlor. He commanded me to fetch her and not to mind whatever state of dishabille she was in. He said to carry her if I had to.”

From Literature

He wouldn’t be the first celebrity to turn up dishabille in the press against his wishes.

From Washington Post

The young woman in a state of dishabille soon gets her answer.

From New York Times

Related Words

• contaminated
• crummy
• disheveled
• dusty
• filthy
• greasy
• grimy
• messy
• muddy
• murky
• nasty
• polluted
• sloppy
• stained
• unkempt