taffeta

noun

taf·​fe·​ta ˈta-fə-tə 

: a crisp plain-woven lustrous fabric of various fibers used especially for women's clothing

Examples of taffeta in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While her actual dress featured puffy sleeves rendered in ivory silk taffeta, the backup dress had slimmer sleeves and was made out of white silk. — Emma Banks, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026

Diana’s show-stopping wedding dress was an ivory silk taffeta and lace gown designed by Elizabeth and her then-husband, David. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 30 July 2026

The room, its walls expensively craquelure'd to resemble fractured eggshells, its pale taffeta curtains billowing in the chill English breeze, is more Hollywood boudoir than office. — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 5 July 2026

David and Elizabeth Emanuel designed the perfectly '80s silk taffeta gown with a 25-foot-long train and 10,000 embroidered pearls, priced at about £90,000. — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 3 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English taffata, from Anglo-French, from Old Italian taffettà, from Turkish tafta, from Persian tāftah woven

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

taffeta

noun

taf·​fe·​ta ˈtaf-ət-ə 

: a crisp shiny fabric used especially for women's clothing