apparel

[uh-par-uhl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR apparel ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

clothing, especially outerwear; garments; attire; raiment.

anything that decorates or covers.

superficial appearance; aspect; guise.

Nautical. the masts, sails, anchor, etc., used to equip a vessel.

Ecclesiastical. a piece of embroidery, usually oblong, on certain vestments, especially on the alb or amice.

verb (used with object), ap·par·eled, ap·par·el·ing or (especially British) ap·par·elled, ap·par·el·ling.

to dress or clothe.

to adorn; ornament.

Nautical. to equip (a vessel) with apparel.

Origin of apparel

1200–50; Middle English appareillen < Old French apareillier to make fit, fit out < Vulgar Latin *appariculāre, equivalent to ap- ap-¹ + *paricul(us) a fit (see par¹ -cule¹) + -ā- thematic vowel + -re infinitive suffix

Related formso·ver·ap·par·eled, adjectiveun·ap·par·eled, adjectivewell-ap·par·eled, adjectivewell-ap·par·elled, adjective

Synonyms for apparel

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR apparel ON THESAURUS.COM

1. clothes, dress, garb, costume, habiliments, vesture. 6. outfit, array, deck out.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for apparel

garment, dress, gear, equipment, habiliment, habit, array, suit, garb, vestment, raiment, threads, costume, attire, duds, rig, robe, outfit, getup, clothes

Examples from the Web for apparel

Contemporary Examples of apparel

As a test, Sun shipped over a container stuffed with apparel made in his home province.
'Made in China' Now Being Made in Africa
Brendon Hong
August 23, 2014
The American Apparel adverts are deemed tacky and offensive because they dramatize, brazenly, the sex-drenched time we live in.
In Defense of American Apparel: Why a Hitched-Up Skirt Barely Conceals a Profound Social Confusion
Tim Teeman
August 8, 2014
The reliance on ever-lower wages is a big problem for apparel companies.
American Apparel’s Dov Charney on the Bangladesh Tragedy
Daniel Gross
May 8, 2013
The new line will accompany an already existing collection of apparel and accessories by Authentic Brands Group.
Protest Mounts Against Rick Ross for Reebok; Zara Comes Under Fire for Slave Labor Claims
The Fashion Beast Team
April 21, 2013
Critics and listeners were left confused whether Paisley was apologizing for his apparel or justifying it with his bizarre lyrics.
'Accidental Racist': Brad Paisley and LL Cool J Duet on the Confederacy in New Track
Jean Trinh
April 8, 2013

Historical Examples of apparel

There was no forgetting the flamboyant brilliancy of her apparel.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
Invention has no vacation so far as ladies' apparel is concerned.
Jennie Baxter, Journalist
Robert Barr
His death had made as little change in her apparel as in her general life.
The Strolling Saint
Raphael Sabatini
In beauty of person and richness of apparel he was well worthy of the company of Valentina.
Love-at-Arms
Raphael Sabatini
Thorpe wondered if it would be possible to consult her upon the question of apparel.
The Market-Place
Harold Frederic

British Dictionary definitions for apparel

apparel

noun

something that covers or adorns, esp outer garments or clothing

nautical a vessel's gear and equipment

verb -els, -elling or -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled

archaic (tr) to clothe, adorn, etc

Word Origin for apparel

C13: from Old French apareillier to make ready, from Vulgar Latin appariculāre (unattested), from Latin apparāre, from parāre to prepare

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for apparel

mid-13c., "to equip (in any way)," from Old French apareillier (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *appariculare. This is either from Latin apparare "prepare, make ready" (see apparatus), or from Vulgar Latin *ad-particulare "to put things together." The meaning "to attire in proper clothing" is from mid-14c. Cognate with Italian aparecchiare, Spanish aparejar, Portuguese aparelhar. Related: Appareled; apparelled; appareling; apparelling.

"personal outfit or attire," early 14c., also "ship's rigging," from Old French apareil "preparation," from apareillier (see apparel (v.)). Earlier in same sense was apparelment (early 14c.).