tailor-made
Americanadjective
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custom-made; made-to-order; made-to-measure.
an expensive tailor-made suit.
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fashioned to a particular taste, purpose, demand, etc..
a musical comedy tailor-made for the popular audience.
noun
adjective
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made by a tailor to fit exactly
a tailor-made suit
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perfectly meeting a particular purpose
a girl tailor-made for him
noun
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a tailor-made garment
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slang a cigarette made in a factory rather than rolled by hand
Usage
What does tailor-made mean? Tailor-made means made to fit the needs or specifications of a particular situation, object, or person—or seeming as though it was made that way. In its most literal sense, tailor-made is used to describe a piece of clothing made by a tailor, especially a suit. A tailor-made garment like this is made specifically to the measurements of the person that it’s for so that it fits them perfectly. This means that it’s one of a kind, as opposed to clothes that are produced in general sizes (often described as ready-to-wear or off-the-rack). But describing something as tailor-made doesn’t necessarily mean it was made by a tailor. Things other than clothing can be tailor-made. In many cases, it’s simply another way of saying it was custom-made—made to unique specifications. Sometimes, the term is used to describe something as seemingly a perfect fit for a person or a situation, even though that thing has not been made specifically for them or even made at all, as in Today’s weather is tailor-made for this hike. Tailor-made can also be used as the past tense of the verb tailor-make, meaning to make in a way that fits a specific situation, as in They didn’t have the replacement part I needed, so I tailor-made one. Less commonly, tailor-made can be used as a noun referring to a tailor-made item, as in Here is my collection of tailor-mades. Example: Each student will follow a tailor-made curriculum that’s designed to meet their individual needs.
Etymology
Origin of tailor-made
First recorded in 1825–35
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.
Conditions were tailor made for the quick bowlers with the green-tinged wicket complemented by heavy cloud cover.
From Barron's • Dec. 1, 2025
But supply chains are not precisely planned, they evolve organically and these components are often tailor made for autos, Mr Nunlist of Trivium China said.
From BBC • Nov. 10, 2025
Linebacker Willie Gay said the hard, hot practice was tailor made for Reid.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 28, 2023
A metalworker re-created them, and a tailor made a lace cover.
From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2022
His measure was taken into Carrolton, where a tailor made him a fine uniform.
From Raiding with Morgan by Dunn, Byron A. (Byron Archibald)
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.
