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

The police were alerted to the theft in the evening of 14 August 2024 when a retail assistant at Singapore's Changi Airport realised a blue denim jacket was missing from a display mannequin.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

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

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

Bill Gates’s employees have spent years carefully cultivating his image—down to keeping a custom-size mannequin to test his outfits for different days of the week.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 31, 2026

He lifts up a small mannequin and lays it faceup on the board.

From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein

The only jerseys in the store for Haaland and France’s Kylian Mbappé were worn by mannequins.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 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

Impostor syndrome kicks in, fabrics start tearing, and half-fitted mannequins, under a studio light at 2 a.m., look like they might never be fully dressed.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2026

California highway patrol is getting wise to jackets and mannequins by carpool lane cheaters.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 19, 2026

The Penney’s and Anthony’s window scenes—dark in the early-morning hours, mannequins in sweaters and winter jackets, scarves and mittens, fake leaves scattered on the ground—set to riot grrrl.

From "The Miseducation of Cameron Post" by emily m. danforth

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Related Words

• dummy

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