fancy dress

American  

noun

fancy dresses plural

1. a costume for a ball, masquerade, etc., chosen to please the fancy, usually a costume characteristic of a particular period or place, class of persons, or historical or fictitious character.

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fancy dress British  

noun

1. 1. costume worn at masquerades, etc, usually representing a particular role, historical figure, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a fancy-dress ball

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• fancy dresses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of fancy dress

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fancy dress

A masquerade without masks is merely fancy dress with an open bar.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

Helmets are obligatory for those being carried - fancy dress is expected.

From BBC ● Mar. 6, 2026

It is not the first time Latin American officers have used fancy dress while apprehending suspected criminals.

From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2026

Brazilian police have disguised themselves using fancy dress to blend in as Carnival-goers to target phone thieves in Rio de Janeiro.

From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2026

The fancy dress dance last night, and I coming down to the head of the stairs in Rebecca’s dress.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

Related Words

• apparel
• regalia