hemline

American

[hem-lahyn] / ˈhɛmˌlaɪn /

noun

the bottom edge of a coat, dress, skirt, etc.
the level of this edge as expressed in inches from the floor.

an 18-inch hemline.

hemline British

/ ˈhɛmˌlaɪn /

noun

the level to which the hem of a skirt or dress hangs; hem

knee-length hemlines

"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

Etymology

Origin of hemline

First recorded in 1920–25; hem ¹ + line ¹

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:

hemline

With each generation, the hemline has gotten shorter.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 7, 2026

Rose Byrne, who is up for best actress for If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, wore a long cream and silver dress with a ruffled hemline.

From BBC ● Feb. 22, 2026

In case anyone were tempted to view "Queen Charlotte" as biographically accurate, the following disclaimer flutters across our screens before we glimpse the first lacy hemline.

From Salon ● May 6, 2023

A very formal cocktail dress might do if the hemline is at or below the knee.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 26, 2022

Ms. Zelda bent over low to adjust Nancy's hemline.

From "The Cinderella Ballet Mystery: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #4" by Carolyn Keene

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023