dress code

American  

noun

• dress codes
  plural

1. a set of rules specifying the garb or type of clothing to be worn by a group or by people under specific circumstances.

   a military dress code; The restaurant's dress code requires men to wear jackets and ties at dinner.

---

dress code British  

noun

1. a set of rules or guidelines regarding the manner of dress acceptable in an office, restaurant, etc

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• dress codes
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dress code

Sometimes the most crucial parts of an office dress code aren’t written out in an employee handbook.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

If a wedding invitation omits the dress code, one golden rule remains: Don’t outshine the bride.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

Its all-white dress code for players, minimalist court-side advertising and association with strawberries and cream all remain fiercely guarded traditions.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

She’d been told the dress code was “casual cute” and felt her outfit delivered.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

To think that I was denied something because of the fact that I was not wearing a tie but was still following the dress code disgusts me.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers