peplum

American  

[pep-luhm] / ˈpɛp ləm /

noun

• peplums,
  plural
• pepla
  plural

1. a short full flounce or an extension of a garment below the waist, covering the hips.

2. a short skirt attached to a bodice or jacket.

3. Obsolete. a peplos.

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peplum British  

/ ˈpɛpləm /

noun

1. a flared ruffle attached to the waist of a jacket, bodice, etc

2. a variant of peplos

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• pepla
  plural
• peplums
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of peplum

1670–80; < Latin < Greek *péplon (neuter; only plural pépla occurs). See peplos

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

peplum peplums

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

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

Short denim jumpsuits were wide enough to suggest a dress and ensure comfort, while a lemon yellow belted jacket created a male peplum over a matching cargo trouser.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 16, 2019

For me, it would be a pair of white jean shorts with a black lace peplum blouse.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

Beautiful skirt suit hybrids, geometric shoulders and peplums followed a silvery fishlike shawl top that was gathered at the midriff.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 25, 2018

The finesse of the styles - such in as architectural peplums and wide, full skirts - show they clearly deserve to be taken seriously as a couture house.

From Washington Times ● Jan. 29, 2015

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

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

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