button-down
Americanadjective
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(of a shirt collar) having buttonholes so it can be buttoned to the body of the shirt.
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(of a shirt) having a button-down collar.
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(of a shirt) having buttons down the front from the collar to the bottom.
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Also buttoned-down (especially of attitudes, opinions, etc.) extremely conventional; unimaginative.
adjective
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(of a collar) having points that are fastened to the garment with buttons
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(of a shirt) having a button-down collar
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Also: buttoned-down. conventional or conservative
a button-down corporate culture
Etymology
Origin of button-down
An Americanism dating back to 1930–35
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.
Stewart, to fulfill her Halloween homeless fantasy, donned a damaged knit cardigan, torn patchwork jeans and an oversize flannel button-down, according to screenshots of her deleted post.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026
I adjusted my button-down collar in my hallway mirror, having agreed to meet Barry at Outback Steakhouse in La Habra.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
How could it be that the elf in a button-down shirt now looked like someone’s cool bisexual cousin!
From Slate ● Oct. 3, 2026
She is standing in front of The Barefoot Contessa with her dark hair coaxed into perky curls, wearing a matching aubergine button-down and skirt.
From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026
Instead of Bermuda shorts and a T-shirt, he wore a button-down shirt, khaki pants, and leather loafers.
From "The Sea of Monsters" by Rick Riordan
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
