costume

American  

[kos-toom, -tyoom, ko-stoom, -styoom] / ˈkɒs tum, -tyum, kɒˈstum, -ˈstyum /

noun

1. a style of dress, including accessories and hairdos, especially that peculiar to a nation, region, group, or historical period.

2. dress or garb characteristic of another period, place, person, etc., as worn on the stage or at balls.

3. fashion of dress appropriate to a particular occasion or season.

   dancing costume; winter costume.

4. a set of garments, especially women's garments, selected for wear at a single time; outfit; ensemble.

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verb (used with object)

costumed, costuming

1. to dress; furnish with a costume; provide appropriate dress for.

   to costume a play.

adjective

1. of or characterized by the wearing of costumes.

   a costume party.

2. meant for use with or appropriate to a specific costume.

   costume accessories.

costume British  

/ ˈkɒstjuːm /

noun

1. a complete style of dressing, including all the clothes, accessories, etc, worn at one time, as in a particular country or period; dress

   national costume

2. old-fashioned a woman's suit

3. a set of clothes, esp unusual or period clothes, worn in a play by an actor or at a fancy dress ball

   a jester's costume

4. short for swimming costume

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verb

1. to furnish the costumes for (a show, film, etc)

2. to dress (someone) in a costume

Related Words

See dress.

Other Word Forms

• recostume verb (used with object)
• uncostumed adjective
• well-costumed adjective

Etymology

Origin of costume

1705–15; < French < Italian: usage, habit, dress; doublet of custom

Explanation

A costume is a set of clothes you wear when you want to dress up like another person. You might wear a witch's costume to go trick-or-treating on Halloween, or put on a George Washington costume to reenact a scene from the American Revolution in a play. A costume is a set of clothes that is unique to a particular person or time period. If you were starring as Dorothy in your neighborhood production of The Wizard of Oz, your costume would consist of a blue-and-white checkered dress and ruby slippers. On the other hand, if you were starring as Lady Godiva, you wouldn't need much of a costume at all!

Example Sentences

That was the costume she wore to her gig on Sept. 16, 1991.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

They can’t bump into each other or any of the 42 actors also rushing around getting in and out of costume.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

They comment with equal sophistication on ballet steps, choreography, history, musicology and the minute details of costume design.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

At a Torrance gathering, cars honked, protesters waved flags, and a person in an inflatable green cow costume hoisted a large American flag.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2026

It was like being in a costume shop.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

Related Words

• apparel
• attire
• dress
• ensemble
• fashion
• garb
• getup
• style
• suit
• uniform
• wardrobe