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• black tie
  black tie

  noun

  a black bow tie, worn with a dinner jacket.
• black-tie
  black-tie

  adjective

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

black tie

¹ American  

noun

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

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

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black-tie ² American  

[blak-tahy] / ˈblækˈtaɪ /

adjective

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

   a black-tie dance.

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black tie British  

noun

1. a black bow tie worn with a dinner jacket

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

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Etymology

Origin of black tie¹

First recorded in 1855–60

Origin of black-tie²

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

“We’re not going to let anybody take over our society,” he told reporters who had rushed to the news conference still dressed in gowns and black tie.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026

Trump, still in black tie, appeared at the podium in the White House briefing room with Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, FBI chief Kash Patel and other top officials.

From Barron's • Apr. 26, 2026

On New Year’s Eve, during my family’s stay, the hotel was teeming with visitors in black tie.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

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 • Apr. 22, 2025

The Reverend was dressed in a black suit and a black tie, as if he had just come from a funeral.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

Related Words

• tux
• tuxedo