fancy dress
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.
Origin of fancy dress
1Words Nearby fancy dress
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use fancy dress in a sentence
The “small party,” as I’ve been calling it, will bring together 12 New York City–based friends for an outdoor ceremony and dinner party where I wear a fancy dress.
It was illegal to hold political protests in Poland in 1989, so 10,000 disaffected students got together in fancy dress.
Why the Left Protests Better: A History of ‘Disobedient Objects’ | Nico Hines | July 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe was at the infamous fancy dress party where Harry appeared dressed as a Nazi - Pelly was dressed up as the Queen.
Prince George’s Wild Godfather’s Lesbian Sex Nightclub Video | Tom Sykes | September 2, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTThe 1960 pink canvas shown here, called “Concetto spaziale, Attese,” seems too fancy-dress for its slashing to be taken seriously.
La Childebert was always "up to" something, but a certain fancy-dress conversazione completely convulsed the neighbourhood.
Vie de Bohme | Orlo Williams
Crowds of masqueraders filled the pavements, the restaurants, and the theatres, where fancy-dress balls were held.
Vie de Bohme | Orlo WilliamsOn the day of Mid-Lent—or rather, at eight on the morning after—Dinah came home from the ball in her fancy dress to go to bed.
Parisians in the Country | Honore de BalzacSatin stripes are frequent in madras, shirtings, and fancy dress goods in connection with plain and figured weaves.
Textiles | William H. DooleyI cant think why it is, but I go through life feeling as if I were perpetually wearin fancy-dress.
The Bishop's Apron | W. Somerset Maugham
British Dictionary definitions for fancy dress
costume worn at masquerades, etc, usually representing a particular role, historical figure, etc
(as modifier): a fancy-dress ball
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
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