costume

[ noun kos-toom, -tyoom; verb ko-stoom, -styoom ]

noun

1. a style of dress, including accessories and hairdos, especially that peculiar to a nation, region, group, or historical period.
2. dress or garb characteristic of another period, place, person, etc., as worn on the stage or at balls.
3. fashion of dress appropriate to a particular occasion or season:

   dancing costume; winter costume.

4. a set of garments, especially women's garments, selected for wear at a single time; outfit; ensemble.

verb (used with object)

, cos·tumed, cos·tum·ing.

1. to dress; furnish with a costume; provide appropriate dress for:

   to costume a play.

adjective

1. of or characterized by the wearing of costumes:

   a costume party.

2. meant for use with or appropriate to a specific costume:

   costume accessories.

costume

/ ˈkɒstjuːm /

noun

1. a complete style of dressing, including all the clothes, accessories, etc, worn at one time, as in a particular country or period; dress

   national costume

2. old-fashioned.
   a woman's suit
3. a set of clothes, esp unusual or period clothes, worn in a play by an actor or at a fancy dress ball

   a jester's costume

4. short for swimming costume

verb

1. to furnish the costumes for (a show, film, etc)
2. to dress (someone) in a costume

Other Words From

• recos·tume verb (used with object) recostumed recostuming
• un·costumed adjective
• well-costumed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of costume¹

1705–15; < French < Italian: usage, habit, dress; doublet of custom

Word History and Origins

Origin of costume¹

C18: from French, from Italian: dress, habit, custom

Synonym Study

See dress.

Example Sentences

Hudson is a costume designer — an “Emmy-nominated costume designer,” he noted gravely, with a twinkle in his eye, so he’s not one to do things halfway.

From Los Angeles Times

Chu has done dazzling movie musical work before, most recently with 2021’s “In the Heights,” but despite the elaborate costume and production design, “Wicked” is his least visually imaginative film.

From Los Angeles Times

Flaunting his ripped physique, Jackson is costumed to resemble a Tom of Finland stud.

From Los Angeles Times

It has become fashionable for young people to dress up in Qing dynasty costumes although their long silk robes often fail to hide the other big trend – chunky white trainers.

From BBC

There were costume changes, each get-up sparklier than the last, and there was a troupe of male and female dancers executing athletic choreography.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apparel
• attire
• dress
• ensemble
• fashion
• garb
• getup
• style
• suit
• uniform
• wardrobe