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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of bodice

1560–70; bodies, plural of body

Example Sentences

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

Related Words

• pullover
• turtleneck