fashion

[ fash-uhn ]

noun

1. a prevailing custom or style of dress, etiquette, socializing, etc.:

   the latest fashion in dresses.

   Synonyms: craze, rage, fad, mode

2. conventional usage in dress, manners, etc., especially of polite society, or conformity to it:

   the dictates of fashion; to be out of fashion.

3. manner; way; mode:

   in a warlike fashion.

4. the make or form of anything:

   He liked the fashion of the simple, sturdy furniture.

   Synonyms: figure, pattern, cut, shape

5. a kind; sort:

   All fashions of people make up the world.

6. Obsolete. workmanship.
7. Obsolete. act or process of making.

verb (used with object)

1. to give a particular shape or form to; make:

   The cavemen fashioned tools from stones.

   Synonyms: construct, frame, mold

2. to accommodate; adjust; adapt:

   doctrines fashioned to the varying hour.

   Synonyms: fit, suit

3. Shipbuilding. to bend (a plate) without preheating.
4. Obsolete. to contrive; manage.

fashion

/ ˈfæʃən /

noun

1. 1. style in clothes, cosmetics, behaviour, etc, esp the latest or most admired style
   2. ( as modifier )

      a fashion magazine

2. modifier (esp of accessories) designed to be in the current fashion, but not necessarily to last
3. 1. manner of performance; mode; way

      in a striking fashion

   2. ( in combination )

      crab-fashion

4. a way of life that revolves around the activities, dress, interests, etc, that are most fashionable
5. shape, appearance, or form
6. sort; kind; type
7. after a fashion or in a fashion
   1. in some manner, but not very well

      I mended it, after a fashion

   2. of a low order; of a sort

      he is a poet, after a fashion

8. after the fashion of
   like; similar to
9. of fashion
   of high social standing

verb

1. to give a particular form to
2. to make suitable or fitting
3. obsolete.
   to contrive; manage

Derived Forms

• ˈfashioner, noun

Other Words From

• fashion·less adjective
• anti·fashion noun adjective
• mis·fashion noun
• mis·fashioned adjective
• pre·fashion verb (used with object) noun
• pre·fashioned adjective
• re·fashion verb (used with object)
• trans·fashion noun
• un·fashioned adjective
• well-fashioned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fashion¹

First recorded in 1300–1350; Middle English facioun, fasoun “shape, manner,” from Anglo-French faço(u)n, façun, Old French faceon, from Latin factiōn- (stem of factiō ) “a making, company, party.” See faction ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of fashion¹

C13 facioun form, manner, from Old French faceon , from Latin factiō a making, from facere to make

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. after / in a fashion, in some manner or other or to some extent; in a makeshift, unskillful, or unsatisfactory way:

   He's an artist after a fashion.

More idioms and phrases containing fashion

see after a fashion ; in fashion .

Synonym Study

Fashion, style, vogue imply popularity or widespread acceptance of manners, customs, dress, etc. Fashion is that which characterizes or distinguishes the habits, manners, dress, etc., of a period or group: the fashions of the 18th century. Style is sometimes the equivalent of fashion, but also denotes conformance to a prevalent standard: to be in style; a chair in the Queen Anne style. Vogue suggests the temporary popularity of certain fashions: this year's vogue in popular music.

Example Sentences

The Heat and Celtics kept the overtime trend alive, with Miami winning Game 1 in dramatic fashion.

From FiveThirtyEight

That indicates even Facebook understands it can’t remove these groups in a timely fashion.

From TechCrunch

The multi motivated platform will focus on fashion, music, art and more, as well as provide emerging designers the opportunity to grow and explore with innovators and highly acclaimed brands.

From Essence.com

With Clemens giving the brand a foundation of accessibility and anti-exclusivity, he is showing the fashion industry that you’re able to have a superpopular product and make it affordable.

From Essence.com

As carpooling fell out of fashion, driving alone became the norm.

From Quartz

Her name was Courtney, and she was a fashion editor for magazines like Photoplay, Screenland, Silver Screen.

From The Daily Beast

Good for her—but what a shameful indictment of Planet Fashion.

From The Daily Beast

Both high fashion and the fast, commercial fashion of Target are supposed to be about aspiration.

From The Daily Beast

When ‘Downton Abbey’ returns Sunday night, its fashion fans are in for a familiar treat.

From The Daily Beast

The fashion industry could never, would never, state its exclusion of black models overtly.

From The Daily Beast

It was a decayed house of superb proportions, but of a fashion long passed away.

From Project Gutenberg

Truth is a torch, but one of enormous size; so that we slink past it in rather a blinking fashion for fear it should burn us.

From Project Gutenberg

At last there appeared some probability of their accomplishing this, after a most curious and truly Mexican fashion.

From Project Gutenberg

In most club card-rooms smoking is not permitted, but at the Pandemonium it is the fashion to smoke everywhere.

From Project Gutenberg

In his childlike, impulsive fashion he had not thought of the future when he adopted Jean.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fad
• form
• look
• mode
• model
• pattern
• shape
• thing
• tone
• trend

More About Fashion

What is a basic definition of fashion?

Fashion is a popular style or trend of something, especially clothing. Fashion is also the general conventions of politeness that society conforms to or an attitude or manner. Fashion can also mean to create something. Fashion has several other senses as a noun and a verb.

Fashion means a popular trend or a style, especially when it comes to clothing.

Real-life examples: Supermodels display the latest fashions of designer clothing on catwalks. Fashion magazines discuss the most popular clothing styles. We often look back with nostalgia (or embarrassment) of popular fashions of clothing, dance, and music of past decades.

Used in a sentence: The pop singer only wore clothes that were of the latest fashions. 

More generally, fashion is used to refer to what society as a whole considers to be acceptable dress, manners, or etiquette. In this sense, something is often said to be “in fashion” or “out of fashion.” In both this and the previous sense, the word fashionable describes something or someone that conforms to popular fashions.

Real-life example: The word groovy was once a popular word to mean something was great or excellent. Today, groovy has largely fallen out of fashion. If you use it, you may be considered out of touch with popular slang.

Used in a sentence: Ripped jeans came back in fashion after the popular singer started wearing them. 

Fashion is a manner or attitude. This sense is often written as “in a … fashion.”

Used in a sentence: The man walked through the mall in a sloth-like fashion. 

Fashion also means to create or build something. This sense often implies that you put something together quickly or had to use whatever parts were available.

Used in a sentence: The stranded sailor fashioned a fishing rod out of a stick and twine.

Where does fashion come from?

The first records of the word fashion come from around 1300. It ultimately comes from the Latin factiōn-, meaning “a making, company, party.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to fashion?

• fashionless (adjective)
• fashioner (noun)
• antifashion (noun, adjective)
• misfashion (noun)
• misfashioned (adjective)

What are some synonyms for fashion?

• style
• fad
• trend
• form
• technique
• trend
• way
• build
• create
• adapt

What are some words that share a root or word element with fashion? 

• fashionable
• fashionista
• facile
• fact
• in fashion
• out of fashion

What are some words that often get used in discussing fashion?

 

• designer
• model
• catalogue
• similar

How is fashion used in real life?

Fashion is commonly used to refer to things that are popular or trendy, especially clothing.

60s/70s fashion is slowly coming back and i’m not mad about it 😌

— mia 🥀 (@mutualruinn) November 22, 2020

Do you remember when silk shirts were in fashion? What colour did you have?

— Louise Munsch (@themrsfong) January 6, 2012

My tweets sound really hyper right now, but I'm just sitting here drinking coffee in a zombie-like fashion. The magic of the internet!

— Lydia Marie Clavenna (@mrslydiamarie) February 11, 2014

 

 

Try using fashion!

True or False?

The word fashion refers to something that is unpopular or unacceptable to society.