pinafore

American  

[pin-uh-fawr, -fohr] / ˈpɪn əˌfɔr, -ˌfoʊr /

noun

• pinafores
  plural

1. a child's apron, usually large enough to cover the dress and sometimes trimmed with flounces.

2. a woman's sleeveless garment derived from it, low-necked, tying or buttoning in the back, and worn as an apron or as a dress, usually over a blouse, a sweater, or another dress.

3. Chiefly British.

   1. a large apron worn by adults.

   2. a sleeveless smock.

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pinafore British  

/ ˈpɪnəˌfɔː /

noun

1. an apron, esp one with a bib

2. short for pinafore dress

3. an overdress buttoning at the back

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• pinafores
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pinafore

First recorded in 1775–85; pin + afore

Explanation

A little girl in a British novel might wear a pinafore — a white, apron-like garment worn over a dress — but you probably won't see pinafores on the runways. The word pinafore, designating a sleeveless child's dress worn over other clothing, has moved on from its original meaning, which can still be seen lurking in the word itself. It was originally a protective apron "pinned afore," or over, one's clothes. These days, a pinafore is primarily worn by a young girl, and in Britain it's called a pinny for short.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pinafore pinafores

It estimates the average cost of the branded parts of the uniform last year was £101.94 with a pinafore, and £83.95 without – but this year it will cost families an average of £53.97.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

Her teachers instantly recognized the pinafore dress and bonnet, but her fellow students didn’t know who she was.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

“I love the scale of the check. I thought it harked back to the original pinafore she wore in the first ‘Beetlejuice,’” says Atwood.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 24, 2024

Later, sequined pinafore dresses were paired with knee-high boots and tops featured long pockets hanging like scarves.

From Reuters ● Mar. 7, 2022

But that didn’t mean Ophie was alone: a little girl with pale blond braids and a pinafore sat curled up in a wing chair, reading a book.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland

We met her surrounded by piles of jumpers, pinafores and donated warm coats.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2022

Though it was her subtle way with black leather — coats, pinafores, pleated skirts — and the ruffled celadon silks that lingered.

From New York Times ● Mar. 6, 2022

Gingham and prints of island life added girlish charm to the relaxed shapes, which included pieces like pinafores, low-slung shorts and men's style shirts.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 15, 2012

The girls wear white pinafores, allowing Sargent to show off his precocious mastery of a full range of tones created by the fabric’s folds and creases.

From Washington Post

That privilege was reserved for a small group of girls...girls with freshly curled hair, crisp clean pinafores and new silk hairbows.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

Related Words

• apparel
• attire
• costume
• ensemble
• frock
• garb
• gown
• robe
• skirt
• smock
• suit
• uniform
• wardrobe