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cocktail dress

American  
[kok-teyl dres] / ˈkɒkˌteɪl ˌdrɛs /

noun

  1. a semiformal, typically short dress, such as one might wear to a cocktail party.

    With a flouncy knee-length skirt and crisply tailored collar, this satin-organza cocktail dress serves up fun with a dash of formality.

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.

On Saturday, Paloma Elsasser walked Ferragamo in a satin plunge-neck cocktail dress, and Dolce&Gabbana included models of normal size.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 24, 2024

Inspired by the 1991 original by Christina Stambolian, this is a custom made off-the-shoulder pleated black silk and chiffon cocktail dress with mini chiffon train.

From BBC • Nov. 20, 2023

Alongside its social and cultural influences, the cocktail dress is rooted in food.

From Salon • Sep. 23, 2023

I put on my only decent cocktail dress.

From Slate • May 27, 2023

Mrs. Reilly looked down at her green taffeta cocktail dress.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

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.