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Synonyms

bodice

American  
[bod-is] / ˈbɒd ɪs /

noun

  1. a usually fitted vest or wide, lace-up girdle worn by women over a dress or blouse, especially a cross-laced, sleeveless outer garment covering the waist and bust, common in peasant dress.

  2. the part of a woman's dress covering the body between the neck or shoulders and the waist.

  3. Obsolete. stays or a corset.


bodice British  
/ ˈbɒdɪs /

noun

  1. the upper part of a woman's dress, from the shoulder to the waist

  2. a tight-fitting corset worn laced over a blouse, as in certain national costumes, or (formerly) as a woman's undergarment

"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

Etymology

Origin of bodice

1560–70; bodies, plural of body

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Jessie Buckley, the favorite to win the best actress Oscar for her portrayal of William Shakespeare's grief-stricken wife in "Hamnet," looked regal in a red Chanel off-the-shoulder bodice and flowing pink ball skirt.

From Barron's • Mar. 15, 2026

“How beautiful she is in her shining raiment,” he rhapsodizes, “her birch-bark body, her sable bodice, her white cravat, her goffered ruff.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

Actor Jeremy Pope wore a beautifully constructed Maison Margiela bodice, which fashion theorist Rian Phin noted was aligned with Miller’s writing about “reconstruction of identity through fashion.”

From Salon • May 6, 2025

Her dress, with banded sheer sleeves and an embroidered bodice, recalls Adjani in “Queen Margot,” but the thigh-high slit makes it distinctly Paz.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2025

I try to sit up a little straighter, but that just causes the bodice of my dress to strain against my rib cage.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland