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.

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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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Etymology

Origin of mannequin

1560–70; < French < Dutch; manikin

Example Sentences

"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

As we passed a mannequin dressed in a frock coat and top hat, Mr. Whitby stopped to appreciate it.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Related Words

• dummy