mannequin

American  

[man-i-kin] / ˈmæn ɪ kɪn /

Or manikin

noun

• mannequins
  plural

1. a styled and three-dimensional representation of the human form used in window displays, as of clothing; dummy.

2. a wooden figure or model of the human figure used by tailors, dress designers, etc., for fitting or making clothes.

3. a person employed to wear clothing to be photographed or to be displayed before customers, buyers, etc.; a clothes model.

4. lay figure.

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mannequin British  

/ ˈmænɪkɪn /

noun

1. a woman who wears the clothes displayed at a fashion show; model

2. a life-size dummy of the human body used to fit or display clothes

3. arts another name for lay figure

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• mannequins
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of mannequin

1560–70; < French < Dutch; see manikin

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Explanation

A mannequin is a human-like figure that's usually used to display clothing in a store. A mannequin in a department store window can look quite normal, but a mannequin in someone's home can look downright creepy. Any store that sells clothes is likely to have at least a few mannequins, so shoppers can see what dresses and sweaters and hats look like on a (fake) person's body. Another kind of mannequin, more often called a "dressmaker's dummy" is helpful to someone who's sewing a skirt or piecing together a suit. Still other mannequins are used to practice emergency techniques, from CPR to water rescues by the Coast Guard.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mannequin mannequins

Just inside the door, there was a flimsy mannequin with the face of a much younger, slimmer Trump, wearing a red “Trump 2028” hat, a dark suit, and a signature red tie.

From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026

Cipriano, 35, a man of starched white shirts, neatly-parted hair and wire-rimmed glasses, resembles a Brooks Brothers mannequin.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026

The image of the red Tesla occupied by a mannequin dubbed Starman -- after David Bowie -- was seen around the world.

From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026

Once the sari and the matching blue blouse reached the museum, textiles conservator Beth Knight watched YouTube videos to learn how to drape it on the mannequin.

From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026

And each mannequin, of course, was crowned by a glorious pair of wings.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

In a photograph obtained by BBC Sport, mannequins display Benfica, Aston Villa and Celtic kits beneath an Adidas logo on the wall.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

With gowned mannequins hung in all directions, and silvery galaxies shimmering here and there, we seem to have left the double helix for the double staircases of the Ziegfeld Follies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026

Equipped with beds, mannequins, a mock laboratory, and protective gear, the simulation centre prepares doctors, nurses, and clinicians for deployments in DRC, or from regional countries at risk from the spreading disease.

From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026

All clothes and accessories will be 60% off, and she is selling some of the store’s fixtures and mannequins.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026

The whole class became mannequins, which is the standard move for please don't call on me.

From "Patina" by Jason Reynolds

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Related Words

• dummy

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