button-down
Americanadjective
-
(of a shirt collar) having buttonholes so it can be buttoned to the body of the shirt.
-
(of a shirt) having a button-down collar.
-
(of a shirt) having buttons down the front from the collar to the bottom.
-
Also buttoned-down (especially of attitudes, opinions, etc.) extremely conventional; unimaginative.
adjective
-
(of a collar) having points that are fastened to the garment with buttons
-
(of a shirt) having a button-down collar
-
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.
He stopped by the birthday party wearing his work uniform: a white, button-down shirt and black slacks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 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
She’s in full hair and makeup, dressed in a gray vest suit with a blue button-down underneath.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026
In 1992, the cover of Vogue’s 100th anniversary issue featured supermodels dressed in Gap white button-down shirts and jeans.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 4, 2026
She wore her usual jeans and black button-down, with her brown curls loose around her shoulders.
From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
