A-line

American  

[ey-lahyn] / ˈeɪˌlaɪn /

noun

1. (especially in women's clothing) a cut of garment consisting basically of two A -shaped panels for the front and back, designed to give increasing fullness toward the hemline.

2. a garment having such a cut.

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adjective

1. being of such design or cut.

   an A-line coat; an A-line dress.

A-line British  

adjective

1. (of a garment, esp a skirt or dress) flaring slightly from the waist or shoulders

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Etymology

Origin of A-line

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

One of the pieces in the exhibition is an A-line shag mini dress in cheetah print that Saar made for herself in 1969, and has been passed through the hands of her daughters and granddaughters.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

When Nicole Hamilton found the A-line gown she plans to wear to her wedding reception, she requested a waist roughly 3 inches smaller than her frame.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

That could mean a classic A-line or ballgown for the ceremony with a shift to mermaid cut, column or mini dress for later events, she said.

From BBC • Aug. 29, 2025

An A-line grey wool collarless coat had pink peonies of varying sizes splashed over it, while a shorter white wool cape was adorned with similar detailed pink and yellow peony embroidering.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 12, 2024

“All righty,” Barb says when they get all my vitals and finish oohing and aahing over my sparkly, silver A-line gown and my white rose corsage.

From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott