the formal attire customarily worn in the evening, usually consisting of black tailcoats and white bow ties for men, and floor-length dresses for women.
a ceremonial style of dress.
formal and complete in all details.
a full-dress uniform.
done or presented completely or thoroughly.
First recorded in 1755–65
First recorded in 1755–65
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Freezing weather meant Nasa had to postpone the first full dress rehearsal as it was too cold to fuel the SLS rocket.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026
I had a full dress with a Cinderella icon on it.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2026
She met her future husband while appearing with him in operas in which she had only seen him in full dress in elderly roles.
From Washington Post • Mar. 22, 2023
But to see him in full dress and going full go was impressive.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 11, 2021
To either side of the rifle and sword were posters that showed Marines standing tall in their full dress uniform.
From "Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two" by Joseph Bruchac
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
