attire

[ uh-tahyuhr ]

verb (used with object)

, at·tired, at·tir·ing.

1. to dress, array, or adorn, especially for special occasions, ceremonials, etc.

noun

1. clothes or apparel, especially rich or splendid garments.
2. the horns of a deer.

attire

/ əˈtaɪə /

verb

1. tr to dress, esp in fine elegant clothes; array

noun

1. clothes or garments, esp if fine or decorative
2. the antlers of a mature male deer

Other Words From

• reat·tire verb (used with object) reattired reattiring
• unat·tired adjective
• well-at·tired adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of attire¹

1250–1300; (v.) Middle English atiren < Anglo-French atirer, Old French atirier, verbal derivative of a tire into a row or rank ( a- ³, tier ¹ ); (noun) Middle English atir < Anglo-French, noun derivative of the v.

Word History and Origins

Origin of attire¹

C13: from Old French atirier to put in order, from tire row; see tier ¹

Example Sentences

The guidelines would require schools to accept name and pronoun changes, eliminate gender-specific attire from dress codes and uniforms and allow students and staff to use facilities that correspond with their gender identity.

From Washington Blade

We’ve abandoned business attire for comfortable lounge wear.

From Washington Post

Hillstone’s restaurants are reluctant to enforce masks — but they forbid guests from wearing hats, tank tops, flip flops and team athletic attire.

From Washington Post

Consumers have not only reduced their consumption of nonessential items like clothing Advertisement , but are buying more quality garments over cheap, disposable attire.

From No Straight News

In March and April, demand for certain products like travel accessories and wedding attire all but evaporated as those activities became impossible to do under stay-at-home orders.

From Digiday

There are also multiple vectors of cool, each defined by distinctive attire.

From The Daily Beast

By 1915, mourning attire had begun to draw more attention to the mourner than to the deceased, drawing critics to the practice.

From The Daily Beast

From the refined attire at Lincoln Center to the avant-garde dress downtown, we spotted many of the big 2014 trends.

From The Daily Beast

But in one area, they seem to have regressed: bathing attire is starting to look positively Victorian.

From The Daily Beast

He had traded his convict uniform for civilian attire, though he still had on prison-issue footwear.

From The Daily Beast

And he girded him about with a glorious girdle, and clothed him with a robe of glory, and crowned him with majestic attire.

From Project Gutenberg

When he bent his elbows the sleeves flew up his arms, and these wristers became the most conspicuous thing in his whole attire.

From Project Gutenberg

His attire, from the square-pointed collar down to the neat black brogues, was spotless.

From Project Gutenberg

There seems to be no sufficient reason for explaining it by 'necklace' or 'gorget,' as if it were a separable article of attire.

From Project Gutenberg

The town itself was still in holiday attire in honor of its royal guest of the preceding day.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• apparel
• clothes
• costume
• dress
• garb
• getup
• habit
• uniform
• vestment