nightgown

American  

[nahyt-goun] / ˈnaɪtˌgaʊn /

noun

1. a loose gown, worn in bed by women or children.

2. Archaic. a dressing gown.

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nightgown British  

/ ˈnaɪtˌɡaʊn /

noun

1. another name for nightdress

2. a man's nightshirt

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Etymology

Origin of nightgown

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at night, gown

Explanation

A nightgown is basically a comfy dress you wear for sleeping. Some people prefer pajamas, while others like nightgowns better. Nightgowns are typically worn by women and girls, although they are closely related to nightshirts, which have long been considered appropriate night wear for people of any gender. Nightgowns often have pretty details like embroidery or lace, and they're made of cotton, silk, or nylon. The word nightgown dates from about 1400.

Example Sentences

Sadly, the publication of her new collection, “The Bloodied Nightgown and Other Essays,” comes just weeks after her death Jan. 7 at age 78.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2024

For the next seven years, until it closed, she performed regularly at the Frog and Nightgown while working as a secretary in the law offices of Terry Sanford, the former governor.

From New York Times • Feb. 3, 2023

Then, in 1968, a nightclub called the Frog and Nightgown opened in Raleigh, N.C.

From New York Times • Feb. 3, 2023

The simplest gestures sound biblical, such as these lines from "The Unbelievable Nightgown":

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2015

To Change the Nightgown The nightgown should be loose enough to change easily.

From Scouting For Girls, Official Handbook of the Girl Scouts by Bacon, Josephine Dodge Daskam

Related Words

• lingerie
• pajamas