bathrobe

American  

[bath-rohb, bahth-] / ˈbæθˌroʊb, ˈbɑθ- /

noun

1. a long, loose, coat-like garment, often tied with a belt of the same material, worn before and after a bath, over sleepwear, or as leisure wear at home.

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bathrobe British  

/ ˈbɑːθˌrəʊb /

noun

1. a loose-fitting garment of towelling, for wear before or after a bath or swimming

2. a dressing gown

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Etymology

Origin of bathrobe

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05; bath ¹ + robe

Explanation

A bathrobe is a loose-fitting robe you put on after a bath or shower. They’re like towels with sleeves and a belt. Fuzzy slippers and curlers are optional. A bathrobe shuttles you between being dressed and undressed. You might wear a bathrobe before or after taking a bath, in a locker room after swimming, or in a fancy spa. Bathrobes generally tie loosely around the waist, and because they're made of toweling, you can put them on when your body is wet. A more lightweight robe you wear over your pajamas can also be called a bathrobe, though it's more commonly called a "housecoat" or a "dressing gown."

Example Sentences

She had received a full-length down bathrobe from my stepfather sometime in the late 1970s.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 30, 2025

Once I decided on finding a full-length down bathrobe I experienced a Christmas miracle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 30, 2025

Osbourne entered the room near noon in a bathrobe, having "just woken up", wearing loads of jewellery and accessories and "a lot of gold", Aswad said, though adding that Osbourne was "perfectly nice, perfectly friendly".

From BBC • Jul. 23, 2025

“This was in the garden by the tomatoes,” she explained, still in her bathrobe.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2025

Towards the end of term he had a flare-up of asthma and wandered wheezing around the house in pajamas and bathrobe, hair standing on end, gasping theatrically at his inhaler.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

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