Jump to:

• full dress
  full dress

  noun

  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.
• full-dress
  full-dress

  adjective

  formal and complete in all details.

full dress

¹ American  

noun

1. 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.

2. a ceremonial style of dress.

---

full-dress ² American  

[fool-dres] / ˈfʊlˌdrɛs /

adjective

1. formal and complete in all details.

   a full-dress uniform.

2. done or presented completely or thoroughly.

---

full dress British  

noun

1. 1. a formal or ceremonial style of dress, such as white tie and tails for a man and a full-length evening dress for a woman

   2. ( as modifier )

      full-dress uniform

---

Etymology

Origin of full dress¹

First recorded in 1755–65

Origin of full-dress²

First recorded in 1755–65

Example Sentences

Members of the UK's armed forces have paraded through the streets of central London during the night in a full dress rehearsal for the King's coronation.

From BBC • May 3, 2023

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

We had three rehearsals, one off-site, one on-site and then a full dress rehearsal in the morning.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2023

But to see him in full dress and going full go was impressive.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 11, 2021

I learned stitches sitting in our apartment on Elizabeth Street, helping Mam when she took in extra work darning and mending and the occasional full dress from a bolt of cloth.

From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline