peplum
Americannoun
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peplums,
plural
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pepla
plural
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a short full flounce or an extension of a garment below the waist, covering the hips.
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a short skirt attached to a bodice or jacket.
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Obsolete. a peplos.
noun
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a flared ruffle attached to the waist of a jacket, bodice, etc
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a variant of peplos
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of peplum
1670–80; < Latin < Greek *péplon (neuter; only plural pépla occurs). See peplos
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.
See Examples For:
His charming, whimsical collection featured ruffled tutus, sculptured soft knits, peplum jackets, skirts with bustles and plenty of shearling fabric.
From BBC ● Mar. 10, 2026
Spain’s Queen Letizia also opted for pink, sporting a skirt suit with peplum frills, matching heels, and a large stylish hat.
From Seattle Times ● May 6, 2023
For her wedding day, the princess famously wore a long-sleeved gown with a fitted top, a peplum and a long train by British-based designers Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos.
From Fox News ● Oct. 13, 2021
“From the 3-D appliqué to the peplum detailing and oversized crystals, the details on the dress embodied what I was looking for,” Ms. Beaudry Westin said.
From New York Times ● Mar. 3, 2020
For me, it would be a pair of white jean shorts with a black lace peplum blouse.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
Gordon delivered a multitude of looks that ranged from embroidered hot pink mini dresses to oversized color-blocked dresses with big peplums and chunky belts.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 13, 2023
For women there were pretty silken shirts with pleated peplums over straight skirts.
From Washington Times ● Feb. 20, 2019
Tulle bursts escaped from the seams of full skirts and the peplums of neat jackets.
From New York Times ● Sep. 16, 2014
There were knife pleats and asymmetrical peplums on dresses above the knee and a long skirt in a muted smudge print of pink and teal.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 13, 2012
I was alive when women wore those ridiculous clothes with the big shoulder pads and the nipped-in waists, with peplums over their bums like backward aprons.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
