the art, act, or technique of trimming the display windows of a store.
misrepresentation of something, so as to give a favorable impression.
The company's list of assets included a great deal of window dressing.
the ornamentation of shop windows, designed to attract customers
the pleasant, showy, or false aspect of an idea, policy, etc, which is stressed to conceal the real or unpleasant nature; façade
First recorded in 1780–90
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In “Undertone,” all of the horror tropes are window dressing — elements to stimulate the eye while Tuason plays with the ear.
From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026
"I am not here for window dressing," she declares.
From BBC • Feb. 1, 2026
That meant Hany Mukhtar's strike in the 11th and final minute of stoppage time was nothing but window dressing.
From Barron's • Oct. 25, 2025
During his five years in New York, he worked other jobs too: window dressing at Bergdorf Goodman and leading tours around the city.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 21, 2025
I was window dressing in case someone came by.
From "Amal Unbound" by Aisha Saeed
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.
