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bow tie

American  
[boh] / boʊ /

noun

  1. a small necktie tied in a bow at the collar.

  2. a sweet roll or Danish pastry having a shape similar to that of a bow tie or butterfly.


bow tie British  
/ bəʊ /

noun

  1. a man's tie tied in a bow, now chiefly in plain black for formal evening wear

"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 bow tie

First recorded in 1910–15

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.

I know that sounds super baseball pretentious, like I should be wearing a straw hat and a bow tie, but I don’t care.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

And veteran director Spike Lee brought a splash of color to his ensemble of muted neutrals with a bright purple hat and bow tie.

From Barron's • Mar. 15, 2026

In her sequin blazer, red pants, black boots, bow tie and wide-brim hat, the 11-year-old mirrored his musical gestures, never missing a beat.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

She says she was called to his dressing room on one occasion, to fix his bow tie for an after work event.

From BBC • Dec. 3, 2024

Rumsey Brooks was solemn and slim, dressed in a black suit with a black bow tie.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead