sundress

American  

[suhn-dres] / ˈsʌnˌdrɛs /

noun

• sundresses
  plural

1. a dress with a bodice styled to expose the arms, shoulders, and back, for wear during hot weather.

---

sundress British  

/ ˈsʌnˌdrɛs /

noun

1. a dress for hot weather that exposes the shoulders, arms, and back, esp one with straps over the shoulders

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• sundresses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sundress

First recorded in 1940–45; sun + dress

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sundress sundresses

Savannah crossed town to the University of Arizona, her alma mater, and strode the quad in sunglasses and a sundress, trailed by the marching band playing the school’s fight song, “Bear Down, Arizona.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

Every spring, I get the urge to buy something new: a sundress, a pretty blouse or something hopeful after a long, drab winter.

From Salon ● Apr. 25, 2025

“I bought three new pairs of jeans. I wore a sundress for the first time in a decade,” she says.

From Scientific American ● Oct. 16, 2023

In “Sunflowers,” after Rebecca falls into a canal, she borrows a pink floral sundress that her mystery man says belonged to his ex-wife.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 26, 2023

Then, when I’m positive Dad is looking away, I sneak the postcard underneath my yellow-and-orange chiffon sundress.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Customers love the firm's massive catalogue of ultra-cheap items, from $8 sundresses to $2 bracelets, at a time when inflation has shrunk purchasing power around the world.

From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026

Many wore sundresses, cowboy boots, leopard print and, to comply with tight security, plastic see-through purses.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2025

Which was, in fact, already set up across the room—it was just covered in sundresses and tops.

From Slate ● Jun. 1, 2025

Although this week’s hot weather may have prompted an early appearance of flip-flops and sundresses, forecasters warn this stretch of heat isn’t indicative of an early start to springtime.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2025

Two little girls in pink polka-dot sundresses toddled by, holding on to their mother's hands.

From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English