costume

1 of 3

noun

cos·​tume ˈkä-ˌstüm 

-ˌstyüm,

 also  -stəm,

or

ˈkäs-ˌchüm 

1

: the prevailing fashion in coiffure, jewelry, and apparel of a period, country, or class

2

: an outfit worn to create the appearance characteristic of a particular period, person, place, or thing

Halloween costumes

3

: a person's ensemble of outer garments

especially : a woman's ensemble of dress with coat or jacket

costumey adjective

costume

2 of 3

verb

cos·​tume kä-ˈstüm 

-ˈstyüm,

 also  käs-ˈchüm;

 or  ˈkä-ˌst(y)üm,

or

ˈkäs-ˌchüm 

or

-stəm 

costumed; costuming

transitive verb

1

: to provide with a costume

2

: to design costumes for

costume a play

costume

3 of 3

adjective

cos·​tume ˈkä-ˌstüm 

-ˌstyüm,

 also  -stəm,

 or  ˈkäs-ˌchüm

1

: characterized by the use of costumes

a costume ball

a costume drama

2

: suitable for or enhancing the effect of a particular costume

a costume handbag

Synonyms

Noun

• drag
• dress
• garb
• getup
• guise
• outfit
• togs

Verb

• apparel
• array
• attire
• bedeck
• caparison
• clothe
• deck (out)
• do up
• dress
• dress up
• enrobe
• garb
• garment
• get up
• gown
• habit
• invest
• rig (out)
• robe
• suit
• tog (up or out)
• toilet
• vesture

Examples of costume in a Sentence

Noun

children in their Halloween costumes

a formal 18th-century Japanese costume

Verb

the days when people, costumed in their Sunday best, would parade along the grand avenue on Easter

Adjective

You're invited to a costume party!

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

So in my grandparents’ home, my maternal grandparents' home, there were incredible costume designs. —Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025

Toby Jones, Stephen Frears, Christopher Hampton and costume designer Jany Temime have been unveiled as honorees of the SCAD Lacoste Film Festival in France’s Provence region later this month. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 June 2025

Verb

The group will perform in Renaissance period costume the music of Shakespeare, including songs and dances from his plays, using a variety of reproduction Renaissance instruments. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2025

The costume designer joined the series during production of that season, the first was costumed by Isis Mussenden. —Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025

Adjective

On Bigger and Weirder, Yankovic will do 20 costume changes, give or take a jacket or hat; his band members will do nine; and all will occur in 45 seconds maximum. —Rebecca Milzoff, Billboard, 9 June 2025

Each week, the costume designers of Elsbeth, High Potential, Matlock and Poker Face drop scintillating wardrobe clues to help create compelling, one-of-a-kind protagonists and intriguing mysteries that have viewers flocking back to network (or network-adjacent) television. —Fawnia Soo Hoo, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from Italian, custom, dress, from Latin consuetudin-, consuetudo custom — more at custom

First Known Use

Noun

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1802, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing costume

• bathing costume
• costume drama
• costume jewelry
• in costume
• national costume
• swimming costume

Rhymes for costume

• assume
• backroom
• ballroom
• barroom
• bathroom
• bedroom
• boardroom
• bridegroom
• classroom
• cloakroom
• consume
• courtroom

Kids Definition

costume

1 of 2 noun

cos·​tume ˈkäs-ˌt(y)üm 

1

: the style of clothing, ornaments, and hair characteristic of a certain period, region, or class

ancient Roman costume

peasant costume

2

: special or fancy dress (as for wear on the stage or at a masquerade party)

3

: a person's outer clothing

costume adjective

costume

2 of 2 verb

costumed; costuming

: to provide with a costume