fancy dress

American  

noun

• fancy dresses
  plural

1. a costume for a ball, masquerade, etc., chosen to please the fancy, usually a costume characteristic of a particular period or place, class of persons, or historical or fictitious character.

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fancy dress British  

noun

1. 1. costume worn at masquerades, etc, usually representing a particular role, historical figure, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a fancy-dress ball

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• fancy dresses
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of fancy dress

First recorded in 1760–70

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fancy dress

Roberts called for similar events to be held throughout the year, saying children also needed fancy dress outfits for school discos and other occasions.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

"We make half of our turnover in October, and one third comes from the week of Halloween alone," said David Gaze, owner at Chaplins fancy dress shop in Bristol.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

A masquerade without masks is merely fancy dress with an open bar.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

It is not the first time Latin American officers have used fancy dress while apprehending suspected criminals.

From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2026

The news soon spread about the fancy dress ball.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

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Related Words

• apparel
• regalia

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