tutu
noun
a short, full skirt, usually made of several layers of tarlatan or tulle, worn by ballerinas.
tutu
1 American
[too-too, ty -ty]
/ ˈtu tu, tüˈtü /
noun
-
tutus
plural
Tutu
2
American
[too-too]
/ ˈtu tu /
noun
Tutu
1
British
/ ˈtuːtuː /
noun
tutu
2
British
/ ˈtuːtuː /
noun
tutu
3
British
/ ˈtuːtuː /
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of tutu
Borrowed into English from French around 1925–30
Explanation
A tutu is a short fluffy skirt that ballerinas wear, usually with tights and a leotard. Tutus are also popular with young children who wear them for fun — those tutus are often paired with superhero capes and tiaras. There are two main kinds of tutus: a classical tutu and a romantic tutu. The first has a short, stiff skirt attached to a bodice, and the second has a longer, flowing skirt. Many tutu skirts are made of tulle, a kind of netting that's stiff and lightweight, and this may be the origin of the word tutu, although neither word experts nor ballet experts are certain.
Vocabulary lists containing tutu
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.
See Examples For:
Preston: One of the best compliments that Jon Tolins, our showrunner, ever gave me was when he saw the dailies from that day of the tutu and dancing with the little 6-year-olds.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026
There is also a costume inspired by crinoline, the stiff or structured petticoat designed to hold out a skirt or tutu, but whimsically reimagined using neoprene.
From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026
The one truth about managing Celtic, or any other team with high demands, is that, if you are a winning manager, you can turn up in a tutu.
From BBC ● Dec. 12, 2025
The tutu — it’s a tulle skirt, actually – was Field’s way of presenting an alternative to sweatpants.
From Salon ● Jun. 7, 2025
I could tell my hair was frizzing, and my purple tutu skirt was completely rumpled.
From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon
The TRC, chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, was generally praised for bringing together victims and perpetrators who were granted amnesty as long as they, among other conditions, fully disclosed what they had done.
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
The Rams’ trade last week for veteran Tutu Atwell, in a deal that sent running back Jarquez Hunter to the Miami Dolphins, gives them seven receivers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026
The Rams trading for Tutu Atwell means only one thing, Puka Nacua is about to be suspended.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026
The process is used in other countries around the world and was chosen as the cremation method of anti-apartheid campaigner Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
From BBC ● Mar. 2, 2026
In addition to responding to the government, I wanted to thank publicly the UDF for its fine work and to congratulate Bishop Tutu on his prize, adding that his award belonged to all the people.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
When I observed the LAB dancers in the studio as they prepared for their upcoming program, there were no tiaras or tutus, no pretense of easy perfection.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
The choreographer asked her costume designer, Robert Perdziola, to dress her dancers in a variety of looks, with flouncy tutus for the women in her first movement and limp, longer skirts in the others.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026
Blessedly, these ballerinas didn’t learn their skills in prison or the foster system, and their tutus are not fodder for a satanic pyre.
From Salon ● Mar. 29, 2026
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
I personally didn’t mind ruffles or pink, or tutus for that matter, but decided now wasn’t the time for a disagreement.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
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.
