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:
Villarreal: And you mentioned Lucy earlier, Elsbeth in the tutu this season was so, so good —
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 tutu — it’s a tulle skirt, actually – was Field’s way of presenting an alternative to sweatpants.
From Salon ● Jun. 7, 2025
She was in the John Lewis store in Brent Cross, west London with her children to find a leotard, tutu and tights for her three-year-old daughter Emily, who was about to start ballet lessons.
From BBC ● Mar. 22, 2025
The sequins on her tutu caught the light and glinted like jewels.
From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon
With much-loved but seldom-used Tutu Atwell now playing for the Miami Dolphins, Xavier Smith, Jordan Whittington, Konata Mumpfield and rookie CJ Daniels will compete for the opportunity to be a third receiver.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 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
Last offseason, the Rams re-signed Tutu Atwell to a one-year $10-million contract and then landed Davante Adams for a two-year deal that included $25 million in guarantees.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2026
Asante King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II thanked AngloGold Ashanti for voluntarily returning artefacts legitimately acquired on open markets.
From BBC ● Nov. 11, 2025
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
Hundreds of spectators gathered along Ocean Boulevard dressed in rainbow tutus, dresses and shirts, whooping and waving as the Long Beach Pride parade rolled past Sunday morning.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 17, 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
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
The idea is to wrap the material typically used for ballet tutus around the tree like a lollipop.
From Salon ● May 16, 2024
She chose the gaudiest one there—four-inch-high ballet dancers in purple tutus, their pink legs pirouetting on a greenish four- in-hand.
From "The Great Gilly Hopkins" by Katherine Paterson
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.
