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.

---

bathrobe British  

/ ˈbɑːθˌrəʊb /

noun

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

2. a dressing gown

---

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

The Bathrobe School of Acting is not an officially recognized method, but it so happens that many actors are students of it, appearing in bedclothes at key moments in movies and TV.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

It also didn’t look quite as fresh after five washes compared with the Snowe Bathrobe.

From Slate • Nov. 16, 2018

Parachute’s Classic Bathrobe was soft and felt nice out of the shower, but there were visible snags in the terry and around the seams after one wash.

From Slate • Nov. 16, 2018

Why it’s great: The Snowe Bathrobe was the best terry robe we tested, by a significant margin.

From Slate • Nov. 16, 2018

Most of the houses we visit have reactions like Bathrobe Lady, don’t answer, or turn their lights off when they see us outside.

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy

Related Words

• kimono
• smock