black tie

¹

noun

1. a black bow tie, worn with a dinner jacket.

2. semiformal evening wear for men (white tie ).

black-tie

²

[blak-tahy]

adjective

1. requiring that guests wear semiformal attire, especially that men wear black bow ties with tuxedos or dinner jackets.

   a black-tie dance.

black tie

noun

1. a black bow tie worn with a dinner jacket

2. (modifier) denoting an occasion when a dinner jacket should be worn

Word History and Origins

Origin of black tie¹

First recorded in 1855–60

Origin of black tie²

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

He wore a lightweight black raincoat and loafers, a dark business suit, a crisp white shirt, a narrow black tie and a pearl stick-pin.

From Los Angeles Times

In another sign of respect for Pope Francis, the King wore a black tie when he met the New Zealand prime minister in Windsor Castle on Tuesday.

From BBC

Held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the Grammy-weekend charity event — dress code: “colorful black tie” — raised more than $5 million for music professionals affected by the wildfires that devastated much of L.A. last month.

From Los Angeles Times

He had started his shift early that day following rumours of the monarch's declining health, presenting rolling news coverage from 14:00, before confirming the Queen's death that evening while wearing a black tie.

From BBC

The multiday, multivenue ceremony, where formal wear meant “cowboy black tie,” included a live band, extravagant floral arrangements, plenty of cowboy hats and the family’s longhorn.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• tux 
• tuxedo