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Synonyms

mannequin

American  
[man-i-kin] / ˈmæn ɪ kɪn /
Or manikin

noun

  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.


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

"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 mannequin

1560–70; < French < Dutch; manikin

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.

"Her favorite colors, without a doubt, I would say are purple and burgundy," the 63-year-old pattern-maker and tailor told AFP amid her sewing machines and a mannequin on which she assembles the presidential wardrobe.

From Barron's • Jan. 2, 2026

Neo looks like a cross between a fencing instructor and a Lululemon mannequin.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 28, 2025

In some cases, they said they have resorted to using afro hair mannequin heads due to a lack of real models.

From BBC • Sep. 15, 2025

The piece is a three-dimensional black box with a white dress made from bath towels and bedazzled gems displayed on a dress form mannequin inside.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 11, 2025

Sheed became a mannequin posed in a bad dance move.

From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles