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Synonyms

white tie

1 American  

noun

  1. formal evening dress for men (black tie ).

  2. a white bow tie for men, worn with formal evening dress.


white-tie 2 American  
[hwahyt-tahy, wahyt-] / ˈʰwaɪtˈtaɪ, ˈwaɪt- /

adjective

  1. requiring that guests wear formal attire, especially that men wear white bow ties with formal evening dress.

    a white-tie embassy reception.


white tie British  

noun

  1. a white bow tie worn as part of a man's formal evening dress

    1. formal evening dress for men

    2. ( as modifier )

      a white-tie occasion

"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 white-tie

First recorded in 1950–55

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.

While earlier music directors at the Met, all men, favored white tie and tails, Nézet-Séguin, who has held the post since 2018, has long had a more eclectic style, both in his clothes and appearance.

From New York Times • Apr. 27, 2023

Mr Sunak stepped along a careful line in his white tie and tails speech at the Lord Mayor's banquet.

From BBC • Dec. 10, 2022

The ceremony starts at 1500 GMT and features glamorous formal wear, with the men in white tie and tails and women in flowing gowns and elegant hairdos.

From Reuters • Dec. 10, 2022

But on Monday, it was Isaac’s filmmaker wife Elvira Lind who came in tails, and Isaac wore a trompe-l’œil white tie and tailcoat dress designed by Thom Browne.

From Seattle Times • May 8, 2022

Championship tournament, he was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, a custom-made white shirt, a Sulka white tie, and Italian-made shoes.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady