dressmaker

American

[dres-mey-ker] / ˈdrɛsˌmeɪ kər /

noun

a person whose occupation is the making or alteration of women's dresses, coats, etc.

adjective

(of women's clothing) having soft lines or elaborate detail.

dressmaker British

/ ˈdrɛsˌmeɪkə /

noun

a person whose occupation is making clothes, esp for women

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

dressmaking

noun

Etymology

Origin of dressmaker

First recorded in 1795–1805; dress + maker

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.

One was her mixed-race dressmaker, Elizabeth Keckly, who betrayed Mary’s confidences in an 1868 memoir.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

Designed by her dressmaker Norman Hartnell, the Queen first wore her Harris tweed jacket and Balmoral Tartan skirt in the 1950s.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025

Santoyo, the dressmaker, said the latest crisis "does bring the community together, helping each other through these tough times."

From Barron's • Oct. 13, 2025

The latter, named after Tiana’s dressmaker mother, features housewares and New Orleans-themed decor.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2024

The dressmaker smiled at her new name and eased back in the chair, but not for long.

From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023