garb

[gahrb]

noun

1. a fashion or mode of dress, especially of a distinctive, uniform kind.

   in the garb of a monk.

   Synonyms: cut, style

2. wearing apparel; clothes.

   Synonyms: attire, costume, dress, clothing

3. outward appearance or form.

verb (used with object)

1. to dress; clothe.

garb

/ ɡɑːb /

noun

1. clothes, esp the distinctive attire of an occupation or profession

   clerical garb

2. style of dress; fashion

3. external appearance, covering, or attire

verb

1. (tr) to clothe or cover; attire

Other Word Forms

• garbless adjective
• undergarb noun
• ungarbed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of garb¹

1585–95; < Middle French garbe graceful outline < Old Italian garbo grace < Germanic; compare Old High German garawen, Old English gearwian to prepare, adorn ( gar ² ), gear

Word History and Origins

Origin of garb¹

C16: from Old French garbe graceful contour, from Old Italian garbo grace, probably of Germanic origin

Example Sentences

Nearly every seat is taken, filled with women wrapped in colorful garb.

Read more on Literature

Burns invokes the Patriots dumping British tea into Boston Harbor, garbed in approximations of Indian dress mixed with their usual clothing.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The reason openly identifiable Jews can walk around safely wearing religious garb is the social compact.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The fraternal gathering of men, costumed in Jérôme Kaplan’s chic, postmodern take on toga-party garb, is vividly spurred by Bernstein’s evocative composition—for strings, percussion and solo violin.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The plaintiffs have tried to avoid this issue by dressing their complaints up in the garb of state consumer-protection or public-nuisance law.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• apparel 
• attire 
• costume 
• dress 
• duds 
• garment 
• uniform