wardrobe

noun

ward·​robe ˈwȯr-ˌdrōb 

plural wardrobes

1

a

: a collection of wearing apparel (as of one person or for one activity)

a summer wardrobe

b

: a collection of stage costumes and accessories

working in the wardrobe department

2

a

chiefly British : a room or closet (see closet entry 1 sense 2) where clothes are kept

b

: clothes press

especially : a tall freestanding cabinet with a rod for hanging clothes

c

: a large trunk in which clothes may be hung upright

3

: the department of a royal or noble household entrusted with the care of wearing apparel, jewels, and personal articles

Did you know?

There is a lot of word history packed into wardrobe. The word was borrowed by Middle-English speakers from a variant of Anglo-French garderobe. A combination of garder and robe, garderobe itself has been borrowed into English as a synonym of wardrobe. If the roots of garderobe look familiar, it is because they are the source of a number of different English words. Garder has given us the verbs guard and ward. And French robe, of course, is the source of the English robe and shares its own origins with the English verbs rob and reave (a synonym of plunder). If this connection seems odd, it might help to know that robe can be traced back to Germanic origins related to the Old High German words roub ("booty" or "looted clothing") and roubōn ("to rob").

Examples of wardrobe in a Sentence

She has a new summer wardrobe.

She went to wardrobe for her fitting.

Recent Examples on the Web

Hear me out, everyone needs a go-to pair of shorts for lounging around the house or outside in the summertime, and a racerback tank is a capsule wardrobe must that can be layered or worn as is. —Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2024

For Challengers, the duo have zeroed in on a wardrobe that strikes the perfect balance of casual and dressy. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2024

Everything leans classic but fits in nicely with a contemporary wardrobe, adding a subtle touch of luxury to any outfit. —Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 4 Apr. 2024

So: Go build a fire wardrobe…that doesn’t also set your pain on fire. —Caroline Reilly, SELF, 4 Apr. 2024

From a structured blazer to a plain white T-shirt, building a solid foundation for your wardrobe should come first. —Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 3 Apr. 2024

Aside from the wardrobe versatility Paltrow has shown, high-top shoes are a practical pick, offering more ankle support than low-tops. —Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024

The instructional tone continued: the book included advice on public conduct, entertaining, and modest clothing, and a list of the precise items required in a man’s wardrobe, including dress shirts and oxford shoes. —Sophie Elmhirst, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2024

Hopefully everyone will go home with a little inspiration to update their existing wardrobes. —Tanya Benedicto Klich, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English warderobe, from Anglo-French *warderobe, garderobe, from warder, garder to guard + robe robe

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

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Kids Definition

wardrobe

noun

ward·​robe ˈwȯr-ˌdrōb 

1

: a room, closet, or chest where clothes are kept

2

: a collection of clothes (as of one person or for one activity)