fancy dress

American  

noun

fancy dresses plural

1. a costume for a ball, masquerade, etc., chosen to please the fancy, usually a costume characteristic of a particular period or place, class of persons, or historical or fictitious character.

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fancy dress British  

noun

1. 1. costume worn at masquerades, etc, usually representing a particular role, historical figure, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a fancy-dress ball

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• fancy dresses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of fancy dress

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fancy dress

A masquerade without masks is merely fancy dress with an open bar.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

Helmets are obligatory for those being carried - fancy dress is expected.

From BBC ● Mar. 6, 2026

James lost his life after going to watch cricket in fancy dress, when England played a Test match at Trent Bridge in July 2011.

From BBC ● Jan. 6, 2026

Winkleman, who put out the flames with another parent, took a short break from Strictly, and later campaigned for tougher fire safety laws on fancy dress costumes.

From BBC ● Nov. 8, 2025

She’s still wearing the fancy dress she bought for Pianopalooza.

From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper

Related Words

• apparel
• regalia