ready-to-wear
Americannoun
adjective
adjective
noun
Etymology
Origin of ready-to-wear
An Americanism dating back to 1890–95
Explanation
Use the adjective ready-to-wear to describe clothes that are made in standard sizes and sold in stores. If you buy a pair of jeans at the mall and put them on as soon as you get home, they're ready-to-wear. Almost all clothing is ready-to-wear — the opposite is tailor-made clothing, which you can also call bespoke or made to measure. These much fancier and more expensive garments are sewn especially for the wearer's body, while ready-to-wear clothes are more affordable and — inevitably — fit less perfectly. In French, the term is prêt-à-porter, "off the rack" or "off the peg."
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.
It’s been tweaked and freshened up a few times since, and became a signature of the brand’s first forays into ready-to-wear apparel under the guidance of Marc Jacobs.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026
Slumped into folding chairs inside his New York studio, renowned designer Marc Jacobs and his brand’s creative director, Joseph Carter, ponder the mood of Jacobs’ Spring 2024 ready-to-wear collection.
From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026
If you're wondering why we're calling the collection Saint Laurent, that's because it's the official name of the ready-to-wear line.
From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026
Another new arrival, Executive Creative Director Stuart Vevers, had just designed Coach’s first ready-to-wear clothing line, expanding its portfolio beyond bags and accessories.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026
Our business has been all that we expected; in some departments, indeed, there is an increase, notably in the neckwear, ready-to-wear clothes, hats, and tailoring departments.
From Business English A Practice Book by Buhlig, Rose
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.
