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

In pictures taken at the time Trevor can be seen on stage with Barlow, including one documenting the pair in fancy dress on New Year's Eve.

From BBC ● Mar. 3, 2026

It is not the first time Latin American officers have used fancy dress while apprehending suspected criminals.

From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2026

While many of us are still deciding what fancy dress to wear for Halloween, celebrities have wasted no time in posting pictures in their elaborate costumes - and the big night hasn't even arrived yet.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2025

I knew them well of course by now, but had never studied them with a view to reproducing one of them as a fancy dress.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

Related Words

• apparel
• regalia