Synonyms

cap and gown

American

noun

a ceremonial mortarboard and gown worn by faculty, students, etc., as at commencement.

cap and gown Idioms

Ceremonial dress worn at graduation exercises; by extension, the academic community (also see town and gown. For example, Mary was very proud) when she received her cap and gown for commencement. [Mid-1800s]

Etymology

Origin of cap and gown

First recorded in 1855–60

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.

See Examples For:

cap and gown

The cost of renting a cap and gown for the day varies.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

He posted a photo of himself in cap and gown last year on LinkedIn, writing “*Pretty* sure my Master’s in CS is done!”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 26, 2026

She has a cap and gown to get ready.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2025

In her graduation photo, De Santiago stares the camera down, resplendent in her black satin cap and gown.

From Salon ● Mar. 21, 2025

I walked home sobbing in my cap and gown and caught a Greyhound bus for New York the very next day.

From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride

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