button-down

American  

[buht-n-doun] / ˈbʌt nˌdaʊn /

adjective

1. (of a shirt collar) having buttonholes so it can be buttoned to the body of the shirt.

2. (of a shirt) having a button-down collar.

3. (of a shirt) having buttons down the front from the collar to the bottom.

4. Also buttoned-down (especially of attitudes, opinions, etc.) extremely conventional; unimaginative.

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button-down British  

adjective

1. (of a collar) having points that are fastened to the garment with buttons

2. (of a shirt) having a button-down collar

3. Also: buttoned-down.  conventional or conservative

   a button-down corporate culture

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Etymology

Origin of button-down

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35

Example Sentences

I have hundreds; whether it’s a solid color, a pinstripe, a pattern, a classic button down, we’re wearing it with any and everything.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2026

In one photo, Reba is wearing a black button down, her salt and pepper hair cropped short above her deep-set eyes.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 1, 2024

We gave each one of them moments that I remembered from growing up — rugby pads, rugby shirts or the polo shirts or that one look with the button down collar and the vest.

From Salon • Oct. 8, 2023

Take Nathan Macintosh, an inauspicious-looking blond guy dressed in khaki pants, a white T-shirt and a button down.

From New York Times • Feb. 17, 2023

Zu stood next to him, dutifully holding the button down so he could use both hands to scrub his face in the stream of water shooting out of it.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken