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.

Federal data show the typical annual wage for a dressmaker is about $43,000 a year, but some tailors and seamstresses can make more.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

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

Hisako Hibi would always find time to paint, often early in the mornings before she had to start work as a dressmaker, her daughter said.

From New York Times • Apr. 5, 2024

In addition to originating the voice of Harley Quinn, Sorkin was known for portraying dressmaker Calliope Jones on “Days of Our Lives.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 27, 2023

"Yes, I think so," the dressmaker replied, "but I can't make heads or tails of them."

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