cheongsam

noun

cheong·​sam ˈchȯŋ-ˌsäm How to pronounce cheongsam (audio)
: a dress of southern Chinese origin with a slit skirt and a mandarin collar

Examples of cheongsam in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Negga variously wears fur and a chemise and a high-necked cheongsam and a golden evening gown. Helen Shaw, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2022 Here the singer wore a sheer take on the cheongsam, a traditional Chinese dress that became popular in the ’90s. Indya Brown, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2022 Near the beginning of the escalator system sits one of the longest-standing cheongsam workshops in town, Linva (38 Cochrane St., Central). CNN, 6 Sep. 2022 Traditional outfits are called cheongsam (also known as qipao) are worn in red. Anna Kim, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2022 Once a loose-fitting everyday staple, the qipao (also known as a cheongsam) was popularized in Shanghai in the 1920s and became increasingly fitted as women gained more agency over their lives and bodies. Rebecca Cairns, CNN, 25 July 2021 Mom was sitting in a chair, her side to the camera, wearing a tight green silk cheongsam. Longreads, 9 Jan. 2016 Many of the old wedding dresses, known as cheongsam, that people donated would annually be showcased in the windows of Macy's during the lunar new year. Monica Haider, CNN, 25 Jan. 2020 Dad described it: Mom was sitting in a chair, her side to the camera, wearing a tight green silk cheongsam. Longreads, 31 Dec. 2014

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cheongsam.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Chinese (Guangdong) chèuhng-sāam, literally, long gown

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cheongsam was in 1952

Dictionary Entries Near cheongsam

Cite this Entry

“Cheongsam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cheongsam. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!