dressmaker

American

[dres-mey-ker] / ˈdrɛsˌmeɪ kər /

noun

a person whose occupation is the making or alteration of women's dresses, coats, etc.

adjective

(of women's clothing) having soft lines or elaborate detail.

dressmaker British

/ ˈdrɛsˌmeɪkə /

noun

a person whose occupation is making clothes, esp for women

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

dressmaking noun

Etymology

Origin of dressmaker

First recorded in 1795–1805; dress + maker

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.

Designed by her dressmaker Norman Hartnell, the Queen first wore her Harris tweed jacket and Balmoral Tartan skirt in the 1950s.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025

Santoyo, the dressmaker, said the latest crisis "does bring the community together, helping each other through these tough times."

From Barron's • Oct. 13, 2025

Biagiotti Cigna’s grandmother, Delia, started the fashion house in the 1960s as a dressmaker.

From Washington Times • Sep. 25, 2023

In addition to originating the voice of Harley Quinn, Sorkin was known for portraying dressmaker Calliope Jones on “Days of Our Lives.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 27, 2023

He was a veteran of Schnittwaren Handlung, and his wife was a seasoned dressmaker.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

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