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fashion

[ fash-uhn ]

/ ˈfæʃ ən /

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See synonyms for: fashion / fashioned / fashioning on Thesaurus.com

noun

a prevailing custom or style of dress, etiquette, socializing, etc.: the latest fashion in dresses.

conventional usage in dress, manners, etc., especially of polite society, or conformity to it: the dictates of fashion; to be out of fashion.

manner; way; mode: in a warlike fashion.

the make or form of anything: He liked the fashion of the simple, sturdy furniture.

a kind; sort: All fashions of people make up the world.

Obsolete. workmanship.

Obsolete. act or process of making.

verb (used with object)

to give a particular shape or form to; make: The cavemen fashioned tools from stones.

to accommodate; adjust; adapt: doctrines fashioned to the varying hour.

Shipbuilding. to bend (a plate) without preheating.

Obsolete. to contrive; manage.

OTHER WORDS FOR fashion

1 mode; fad, rage, craze.

4 shape, cut, pattern, figure.

8 frame, construct, mold.

9 suit, fit.

See synonyms for fashion on Thesaurus.com

VIDEO FOR FASHION

Bendy Redefines Eco-Fashion

Products like the Bendy show that eco-fashion can be more than just an expensive ideal. Now, you can choose products that look and feel great while being kinder and gentler on the planet. Watch more to find out how.

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QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about fashion

after / in a fashion, in some manner or other or to some extent; in a makeshift, unskillful, or unsatisfactory way: He's an artist after a fashion.

Origin of fashion

First recorded in 1300–1350; Middle English facioun, fasoun “shape, manner,” from Anglo-French faço(u)n, façun, Old French faceon, from Latin factiōn- (stem of factiō ) “a making, company, party.” See faction¹

synonym study for fashion

1. Fashion, style, vogue imply popularity or widespread acceptance of manners, customs, dress, etc. Fashion is that which characterizes or distinguishes the habits, manners, dress, etc., of a period or group: the fashions of the 18th century. Style is sometimes the equivalent of fashion, but also denotes conformance to a prevalent standard: to be in style; a chair in the Queen Anne style. Vogue suggests the temporary popularity of certain fashions: this year's vogue in popular music.

OTHER WORDS FROM fashion

fash·ion·less, adjectivean·ti·fash·ion, noun, adjectivemis·fash·ion, nounmis·fash·ioned, adjective

pre·fash·ion, verb (used with object), nounpre·fash·ioned, adjectivere·fash·ion, verb (used with object)trans·fash·ion, nounun·fash·ioned, adjectivewell-fashioned, adjective

Words nearby fashion

fascist, Fascista, fascistize, FASD, fash, fashion, fashionable, fashion coordinator, fashioner, fashion-forward, fashion house

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT FASHION

What is a basic definition of fashion?

Fashion is a popular style or trend of something, especially clothing. Fashion is also the general conventions of politeness that society conforms to or an attitude or manner. Fashion can also mean to create something. Fashion has several other senses as a noun and a verb.

Fashion means a popular trend or a style, especially when it comes to clothing.

Real-life examples: Supermodels display the latest fashions of designer clothing on catwalks. Fashion magazines discuss the most popular clothing styles. We often look back with nostalgia (or embarrassment) of popular fashions of clothing, dance, and music of past decades.

Used in a sentence: The pop singer only wore clothes that were of the latest fashions.

More generally, fashion is used to refer to what society as a whole considers to be acceptable dress, manners, or etiquette. In this sense, something is often said to be “in fashion” or “out of fashion.” In both this and the previous sense, the word fashionable describes something or someone that conforms to popular fashions.

Real-life example: The word groovy was once a popular word to mean something was great or excellent. Today, groovy has largely fallen out of fashion. If you use it, you may be considered out of touch with popular slang.

Used in a sentence: Ripped jeans came back in fashion after the popular singer started wearing them.

Fashion is a manner or attitude. This sense is often written as “in a … fashion.”

Used in a sentence: The man walked through the mall in a sloth-like fashion.

Fashion also means to create or build something. This sense often implies that you put something together quickly or had to use whatever parts were available.

Used in a sentence: The stranded sailor fashioned a fishing rod out of a stick and twine.

Where does fashion come from?

The first records of the word fashion come from around 1300. It ultimately comes from the Latin factiōn-, meaning “a making, company, party.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to fashion?

fashionless (adjective)
fashioner (noun)
antifashion (noun, adjective)
misfashion (noun)
misfashioned (adjective)

What are some synonyms for fashion?

What are some words that share a root or word element with fashion?

What are some words that often get used in discussing fashion?

How is fashion used in real life?

Fashion is commonly used to refer to things that are popular or trendy, especially clothing.

60s/70s fashion is slowly coming back and i’m not mad about it 😌

— mia 🥀 (@mutualruinn) November 22, 2020

Do you remember when silk shirts were in fashion? What colour did you have?

— Louise Munsch (@themrsfong) January 6, 2012

My tweets sound really hyper right now, but I'm just sitting here drinking coffee in a zombie-like fashion. The magic of the internet!

— Lydia Marie Clavenna (@mrslydiamarie) February 11, 2014

Try using fashion!

True or False?

The word fashion refers to something that is unpopular or unacceptable to society.

How to use fashion in a sentence

The Heat and Celtics kept the overtime trend alive, with Miami winning Game 1 in dramatic fashion.
Bam Adebayo Is Making Plays, Denver Is Making Us Look Bad, And The Lakers May Need To Make Some Adjustments|Chris Herring (chris.herring@fivethirtyeight.com)|September 17, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
That indicates even Facebook understands it can’t remove these groups in a timely fashion.
Facebook tries to clean up Groups with new policies|Sarah Perez|September 17, 2020|TechCrunch
The multi motivated platform will focus on fashion, music, art and more, as well as provide emerging designers the opportunity to grow and explore with innovators and highly acclaimed brands.
Kerby Jean-Raymond Launch ‘Your Friends In New York’|Nandi Howard|September 11, 2020|Essence.com
With Clemens giving the brand a foundation of accessibility and anti-exclusivity, he is showing the fashion industry that you’re able to have a superpopular product and make it affordable.
Here’s Why Everyone Can’t Get Enough Telfar|Hope Wright|September 11, 2020|Essence.com

As carpooling fell out of fashion, driving alone became the norm.
Carpooling is poised to make a comeback this fall|Lila MacLellan|September 9, 2020|Quartz
Her name was Courtney, and she was a fashion editor for magazines like Photoplay, Screenland, Silver Screen.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Good for her—but what a shameful indictment of Planet Fashion.
One Vogue Cover Doesn’t Solve Fashion’s Big Race Problem|Danielle Belton|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Both high fashion and the fast, commercial fashion of Target are supposed to be about aspiration.
One Vogue Cover Doesn’t Solve Fashion’s Big Race Problem|Danielle Belton|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
When ‘Downton Abbey’ returns Sunday night, its fashion fans are in for a familiar treat.
What Downton’s Fashion Really Means|Katie Baker|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The fashion industry could never, would never, state its exclusion of black models overtly.
One Vogue Cover Doesn’t Solve Fashion’s Big Race Problem|Danielle Belton|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It was a decayed house of superb proportions, but of a fashion long passed away.
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Truth is a torch, but one of enormous size; so that we slink past it in rather a blinking fashion for fear it should burn us.
Pearls of Thought|Maturin M. Ballou
At last there appeared some probability of their accomplishing this, after a most curious and truly Mexican fashion.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
In most club card-rooms smoking is not permitted, but at the Pandemonium it is the fashion to smoke everywhere.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
In his childlike, impulsive fashion he had not thought of the future when he adopted Jean.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke

British Dictionary definitions for fashion

fashion

/ (ˈfæʃən) /

noun

style in clothes, cosmetics, behaviour, etc, esp the latest or most admired style
(as modifier)a fashion magazine

(modifier) (esp of accessories) designed to be in the current fashion, but not necessarily to last

manner of performance; mode; wayin a striking fashion
(in combination)crab-fashion

a way of life that revolves around the activities, dress, interests, etc, that are most fashionable

shape, appearance, or form

sort; kind; type

after a fashion or in a fashion

in some manner, but not very wellI mended it, after a fashion
of a low order; of a sorthe is a poet, after a fashion

after the fashion of like; similar to

of fashion of high social standing

verb (tr)

to give a particular form to

to make suitable or fitting

obsolete to contrive; manage

Derived forms of fashion

fashioner, noun

Word Origin for fashion

C13 facioun form, manner, from Old French faceon, from Latin factiō a making, from facere to make

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 Idioms and Phrases with fashion

fashion

see after a fashion; in fashion.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.