bustier

American

[boos-tyey] / busˈtyeɪ /

noun

a woman's close-fitting, sleeveless, strapless top, often elasticized, usually having boning or facing to give it shape, and worn as a blouse.

bustier British

/ ˈbuːstɪeɪ /

noun

a type of close-fitting usually strapless top worn by women

"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 bustier

< French, originally an undergarment so tailored; see bust ¹, -ier ²

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.

Rarely has one person so dominated the fashion stakes, with a specially made silvery Jacquemus bustier dress on opening night, followed by an enormous hot pink Barbie ballgown by edgy French-Canadian fashion label Matieres Fecales.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

Recording artist Doja Cat wore a custom Marc Jacobs look that featured giant shoulder pads and a leopard-print bustier panel.

From BBC • May 5, 2025

At 7 p.m. on the dot, drag queen Jupiter Genesis kicked off the show, wearing a layered purple boa and a metallic bustier.

From Slate • Nov. 2, 2024

From ethereal white lace boho dresses to a stark black and white Pierrot bustier creation, each piece was a culmination of her vision of timeless femininity, echoing the radiant essence of nature in every stitch.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 28, 2023

Mugler by Casey Cadwallader Cadwallader, the creative director for Mugler, designed the perilous-looking metal bustier Bey wore for much of “Renaissance’s” promo imagery.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 28, 2023

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023