peplum
Americannoun
-
a short full flounce or an extension of a garment below the waist, covering the hips.
-
a short skirt attached to a bodice or jacket.
-
Obsolete. a peplos.
noun
-
a flared ruffle attached to the waist of a jacket, bodice, etc
-
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
An ash bustier gown sported an inside peplum to create a surreal curtain-shape in the skirt.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 30, 2022
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
For me, it would be a pair of white jean shorts with a black lace peplum blouse.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
Perhaps they’d leave Siriano’s oversize peplums and his spare enlarged shoulders at home.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 8, 2024
For women there were pretty silken shirts with pleated peplums over straight skirts.
From Washington Times ● Feb. 20, 2019
Consuelo Castiglioni’s clothes for Marni were conspicuously cleaner than usual, with peplums or folded pieces of fabric giving shape to full-skirted dresses in black or white cotton.
From New York Times ● Sep. 24, 2012
Spotlighting dappled the colors of scuba-like neoprene dresses with peplums and inflated arms in canary yellow, emerald green and royal blue.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 3, 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.
