haberdashery
Americannoun
-
a haberdasher's shop.
-
the goods sold there.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of haberdashery
1425–75; late Middle English haberdashrye < Anglo-French. See haberdasher, -y 3
Explanation
A haberdashery is a men's clothing shop, or a men's department in a larger store. You might visit a haberdashery to buy your dad a tie for Father's Day. Haberdashery is an old-fashioned word for the store you visit when you want to buy a suit or a shirt and tie. In the UK, the meaning is different — a British haberdashery sells sewing notions like buttons, zippers, and thread. The word comes from haberdasher, "seller of small things." These small things sometimes traditionally included men's hats, which led to the American definition of "men's shop."
Vocabulary lists containing haberdashery
The Plot to Kill Hitler
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Sword of Summer
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Tower of Nero
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
One worked in haberdashery, one acted, and one’s path was uncertain—but none wrote.
From Slate ● Mar. 19, 2026
At one time Pasquel owned six Lincolns and had a haberdashery in his massive Mexico City mansion, often inviting players in to pick through his walk-in closets and take home whatever fit.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 7, 2022
The 200-year-old haberdashery Brooks Brothers had a bigger challenge - it never followed the casual office attire trend several years ago like its rivals.
From Washington Times ● May 2, 2022
Maurice Dorfman ran Jeannette Fashions, a traditional haberdashery shop and the longest-surviving independent shop on Clapham High Street, south London.
From BBC ● Mar. 31, 2022
Two others were in the haberdashery business, one had a graphic design studio, another made feather hats, and another worked in the finance department at Tishman Realty.
From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
Others suggested the British medallist may have started a new trend - and haberdasheries everywhere should be poised for a mad dash of wannabe knitters.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2021
Haitians put down stakes in the 1970s, opening eateries, haberdasheries, tax-assistance services and grocery stores.
From New York Times ● Jan. 18, 2018
Browning, King had a chain of haberdasheries while the late James Butler, founder of the first grocery chain, was still a farm hand in Kilkenny.
From Time Magazine Archive
The name "Fashion Park Associates Inc." was chosen last week to include the products of three famed haberdasheries, newly merged: Weber & Heilbroner, Inc., Stein-Bloch Co.,
From Time Magazine Archive
Cheap jewelry shops, cheap tobacconist's shops, cheap haberdasheries, cheap restaurants, grimy little newspaper agencies and ticket-offices, and 'demonstration' stores for patent foods, patent waters, patent razors.
From Atlantic Classics by Various
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.
