seamstress

American  

[seem-stris, sem-] / ˈsim strɪs, ˈsɛm- /

noun

• seamstresses
  plural

1. a woman whose occupation is sewing.

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seamstress British  

/ ˈsɛmpstrɪs, ˈsɛmstrɪs /

noun

1. a woman who sews and makes clothes, esp professionally

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Gender

See -ess.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• seamstresses
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of seamstress

First recorded in 1605–15; seamst(e)r + -ess

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Explanation

A seamstress is a person whose job involves sewing clothing. You could be a seamstress if you hem your own pants, but most seamstresses work in factories sewing garments using sewing machines. Traditionally, a seamstress was a woman who sewed seams in clothes using a machine, or occasionally by hand. Seamstresses weren't considered as skilled as a dressmaker, who makes custom clothing, or a tailor, who alters clothes to fit a specific person. Each of these titles is a distinct job, but they are commonly used interchangeably. Some people use the newer, unisex term sewist instead of seamstress.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

seamstress seamstresses

"I've been travelling for three hours... to get to work," said Tetiana Osypenko, a 49-year-old seamstress whose bus was stuck in a traffic jam.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

Husbands hired Lange and trained her as a seamstress.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026

Welsh described Hogg as a "punk-rock Paisley seamstress".

From BBC ● Mar. 28, 2026

Mia has also identified a seamstress who made persistent errors in the original work.

From BBC ● Dec. 27, 2025

No job lasted forever, but before the seamstress work, Mom was cleaning in a white family’s home and, before that, another family’s.

From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz

Sorcinelli, aided by 11 seamstresses, displayed the green silk forming the basis of Leo's vestment for Rimini, rolling out the sumptuous fabric onto a long table.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

Time and again, the 11th-Century seamstresses who created it - who are believed to have been in England, probably Canterbury - were so skilled that the story they are telling looks like it's in 3D.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, he spent his teenage years in the U.S., growing up in a community of seamstresses and store owners who always found reasons to do more rather than less.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2026

The Kerns struck the deal last June for an initial investment of 25 million euros, while also committing to keeping the brand in Italy and rehiring about 200 employees, including the seamstresses.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 18, 2026

In 1902, Fannie and the other seamstresses launched Ladies’ Local 67 of the United Garment Workers of America.

From "Fannie Never Flinched" by Mary Cronk Farrell

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