corset

American  

[kawr-sit] / ˈkɔr sɪt /

noun

corsets plural

1. Sometimes corsets. a close-fitting undergarment, stiffened with whalebone or similar material and often capable of being tightened by lacing, enclosing the trunk: worn, especially by women, to shape and support the body; stays.

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verb (used with object)

1. to dress or furnish with or as if with a corset.

2. to regulate strictly; constrict.

corset British  

/ ˈkɔːsɪt /

noun

1. 1. a stiffened, elasticated, or laced foundation garment, worn esp by women, that usually extends from below the chest to the hips, providing support for the spine and stomach and shaping the figure

   2. a similar garment worn because of injury, weakness, etc, by either sex

2. informal a restriction or limitation, esp government control of bank lending

3. a stiffened outer bodice worn by either sex, esp in the 16th century

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verb

1. (tr) to dress or enclose in, or as in, a corset

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• corsetless
  adjective
• uncorseted
  adjective
• well-corseted
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• corsets
  plural

Etymology

Origin of corset

1225–75; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French, equivalent to cors bodice, body + -et -et

Explanation

A corset is a fitted garment with stiff supports that cinch in the waist of the person who's wearing it. Corsets can be worn for back support, but women used to wear them to look skinny in their dresses. Historians believe that corsets have been around for more than three hundred years. As fashion has changed over time, the shape and construction of corsets has also changed — today, while corsets are mainly worn as costumes or for medical reasons, many women still wear "foundation garments," which differ from corsets only in material — the modern version is made of stretchy fabric rather than stiff bones or metal. Corset is an Old French word, from cors, or "body."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

corset corsets

This spring and summer, “Fashion in the 18th Century: A Fantasized Legacy” features original pieces like Marie Antoinette’s corset, while tracking the period’s impact on later designers such as Christian Dior and Vivienne Westwood.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 10, 2026

She rocked this Veekee James silver corset flowing dress embellished with hudreds of stones and crystals.

From BBC ● May 10, 2026

Heughan: You were also probably happy to take the corset off.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 6, 2026

Cizeron wore a black jumpsuit, while Fournier Beaudry was decked out in a pink corset reminiscent of Madonna's conical, Jean-Paul Gaultier-style bra.

From Barron's ● Feb. 9, 2026

Finally she went into the bathroom and took off her corset, which she always wore, even on the days when she had a lot of work.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

French designer Paul Poiret looked to this history in the early 20th century when he began designing chic, architecturally inspired gowns that required no corsets or petticoats.

From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026

Their weekend offered drag performances, a crystal bowl sound bath, a disco nap break and 32 custom looks for the wedding party featuring florals, feathers, corsets and capes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026

This is despite many designers adopting looks that naturally create curvy silhouettes, such as corsets.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2025

When on tour, she's required to change her outfit mid-show seven or eight times a night, navigating her way into corsets and sequins and feathered headdresses as a clock ticks down to the next song.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2024

Brambleweft starts to sketch—billowing skirts and cunning little capes, corsets stitched with fanciful creatures.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Related Words

• bodice
• underwear