outfit

American  

[out-fit] / ˈaʊtˌfɪt /

noun

• outfits
  plural

1. an assemblage of articles that equip a person for a particular task, role, trade, etc..

   an explorer's outfit.

   Synonyms:

   kit

2. a set of usually matching or harmonious garments and accessories worn together; coordinated costume; ensemble.

   a new spring outfit.

3. a set of articles for any purpose.

   a cooking outfit.

   Synonyms:

   kit

4. a group associated in an undertaking requiring close cooperation, as a military unit.

5. a business firm engaged in a particular form of commercial enterprise.

   a construction outfit.

6. any company, party, or set.

7. the act of fitting out or equipping for any purpose, as for a voyage, journey, or expedition.

8. mental, physical, or moral equipment.

---

verb (used with object)

• outfits,
  present (3rd person singular)
• outfitted,
  past participle,  past
• outfitting
  present participle

1. to furnish with an outfit, equipment, etc.; fit out; equip.

   to outfit an expedition to the South Pole.

   Synonyms:

   rig, supply, appoint

2. Nautical. to finish equipping (a vessel) at a dock.

verb (used without object)

• outfits,
  present (3rd person singular)
• outfitted,
  past participle,  past
• outfitting
  present participle

1. to furnish oneself with an outfit.

outfit British  

/ ˈaʊtˌfɪt /

noun

1. a set of articles or equipment for a particular task, occupation, etc

2. a set of clothes, esp a carefully selected one

3. informal any group or association regarded as a cohesive unit, such as a military company, business house, etc

4. the act of fitting out

5. (formerly) the annual shipment of trading goods and supplies sent by a fur company to its trading posts

---

verb

1. to furnish or be furnished with an outfit, equipment, etc

Usage

What does outfit mean? Outfit commonly means a set of clothes, especially when they have been designed or carefully selected to be worn together. Outfit can also be used as a term for a company, organization, or group that works closely together. As a verb, it means to provide with the proper equipment. Example: Oh, I just love your outfit—I would have never thought to mix a flower pattern with a leopard print.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• outfitter
  noun
• preoutfit
  verb (used with object)
• reoutfit
  verb (used with object)

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• outfits
  plural

Participles

• outfitting
  present
• outfitted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• outfit
  simple
• outfits
  simple
• have outfitted
  perfect
• has outfitted
  perfect
• am outfitting
  progressive
• are outfitting
  progressive
• is outfitting
  progressive
• have been outfitting
  perfect progressive
• has been outfitting
  perfect progressive

Past

• outfitted
  simple
• had outfitted
  perfect
• was outfitting
  progressive
• were outfitting
  progressive
• had been outfitting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will outfit
  simple
• will have outfitted
  perfect
• will be outfitting
  progressive
• will have been outfitting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of outfit

First recorded in 1755–65; out- + fit ¹

Explanation

You can use the noun outfit to mean clothes that go together, like a shirt and pants that you always wear to job interviews. You might have spent hours choosing your first-day-of-school outfit. An outfit is often selected for a special occasion, like a graduation outfit, an outfit for your cousin's party, or your rodeo outfit. An outfit is also a kit or set of tools that serve a specific purpose, and as a verb it means "provide with" or "equip." A girl scout leader, for example, will outfit her troops with water and sunblock for a long hike on a sunny summer day.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

outfit outfits outfitted outfitting

Companies last year bought more than 36,700 robots, the highest number of orders since 2022, when businesses were rushing to outfit their warehouses with technology to meet soaring e-commerce demand during the pandemic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

The credit rating outfit said that is the most of any North American life insurers it reviews.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

Wearing a beige prison outfit, Mangione appeared solemn and serious throughout the hearing.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

She ditched the dress for a more casual outfit to watch the night’s headliner, Charli XCX.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Together, the outfit glinted strangely in the sun.

From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly

Many are willing to pay outfits like Luggage Forward $144 to ship a 50-pound bag within the U.S., and $374 to get it from the U.S. to the United Kingdom.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

The outfits that they’d wear walking around were the same outfits they’d wear onstage.

From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2026

Local media reported that their outfits originally led police to believe that the victim was a delivery driver, but officials were later alerted to his identity.

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

People are showing up in barely-there outfits to business conferences and weddings, prompting shock and discomfort among other attendees.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

They wear the exact same outfits, down to the same socks.

From "The Fourteenth Goldfish" by Jennifer L. Holm

From above, an outdoor terrace is outfitted especially for hosting recruits or other luminaries, complete, for the time being, with basketball courts and pickleball.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

Operations are spread out over 10 "flow days," including days when wings are added and the structure is outfitted with engines, seats and other components.

From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026

As his star rose, he attracted amused attention with his Manhattan penthouse and Palm Beach compound, both outfitted to the gills in golden decor.

From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026

The main floor comes complete with several seating areas, one of which is outfitted in impressive glass walls that overlook the backyard.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 9, 2026

Five minutes later, Zoe had me outfitted in a ragged flannel shirt and jeans three sizes too big, bright red sneakers, and a floppy rainbow hat.

From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan

Boeing reported a bigger-than-expected loss Tuesday fuelled by $280 million in additional costs in outfitting two US presidential planes, but said broad-based revenue growth showed progress after several troubled years.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

With hyperscalers locked in an arms race to secure data-center capacity, outfitting those data centers quickly is how neoclouds win business.

From Barron's ● May 13, 2026

The privately held company, which launched in 2020, is now ringing up $300 million-plus in yearly sales outfitting members of the more than 30 million tradespeople in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 2, 2026

Earlier this year, Nike was criticized for outfitting Major League Baseball players in uniforms that didn’t cover much at all.

From Slate ● Dec. 28, 2024

He spent much of his time outfitting his hotel.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson