evening dress

noun

1. formal or semiformal attire for evening wear.

evening dress

noun

1. attire for wearing at a formal occasion during the evening, esp (for men) a dinner jacket and black tie, or (less commonly, for women) a floor-length gown

Word History and Origins

Origin of evening dress¹

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

He was perfectly groomed, clad in evening-dress, and with his gloves and his silk hat in his hand.

From Project Gutenberg

The best thing I took away from Paris in 1899 was an evening-dress with a low neck—my first to go with hair put up.

From Project Gutenberg

They were expected to wear their pretty evening-dress, and look as much like grown-up young ladies as possible.

From Project Gutenberg

It was Julie all in white, a semi-evening dress that heightened in a wonderful fashion her glorious, blond beauty.

From Project Gutenberg

From early morning the committee was abroad, in full evening-dress, and desperately busy.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• evening gown