strapless

American

[strap-lis] / ˈstræp lɪs /

adjective

without a strap or straps.
designed and made without shoulder straps.

a strapless evening gown; a strapless bra.

strapless British

/ ˈstræplɪs /

adjective

(of a woman's formal dress, brassiere, etc) without straps over the shoulders

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of strapless

First recorded in 1840–50; strap + -less

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.

Holland wore black trousers, a black jacket, a red dress shirt and black tie while Zendaya donned a strapless black gown with a fringed skirt.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026

Black and white is a perennial favorite of the stars, and best actress nominee Rose Byrne embraced it, while also adopting the spring trend in a strapless black Dior gown covered in white blooms.

From Barron's • Mar. 15, 2026

And a strapless gown of red polyester plush, Autumn-Winter 2014-15, winks at a world that is drowning in red carpets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 1, 2025

The comedian started off the night wearing a strapless metallic dress on the red carpet before switching to a halter neck silver sequined gown to kick the ceremony off.

From BBC • Jan. 6, 2025

She looked gorgeous, with this ombre lip gloss and a deep burgundy strapless dress that set off her blond hair.

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023