bespoke

adjective

be·​spoke bi-ˈspōk How to pronounce bespoke (audio)
bē-
variants or less commonly bespoken
1
a
: custom-made
a bespoke suit
b
: dealing in or producing custom-made articles
a bespoke tailor
2
dialect : engaged

Did you know?

In the English language of yore, the verb bespeak had various meanings, including “to speak,” “to accuse,” and “to complain.” In the 16th century, bespeak acquired another meaning: “to order or arrange in advance.” It is from that sense that we get the adjective bespoke, referring to clothes and other things that are ordered before they are made. Bespoke has enjoyed a spike in usage in recent years, perhaps due to consumer trends that champion all things artisanal over those that are prefab.

Examples of bespoke in a Sentence

a wealthy man who can easily afford bespoke suits
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Worse are the historical chatbots where people who lived and spoke and wrote are compiled into bespoke large language models and then let loose without consideration or care. John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2025 Today, half of the production is ready-to-wear and the other half custom or bespoke. Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 24 May 2025 Owner Dori Lewis and her team of milliners create unique headwear, filling the shop with a colorful array of dresses from independent designers and bespoke Derby hats. Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 23 May 2025 The ability to develop, deploy, and control bespoke AI capabilities will dictate who prevails in the next generation of space conflict. Charles Beames, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for bespoke

Word History

Etymology

past participle of bespeak

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bespoke was in 1607

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Cite this Entry

“Bespoke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bespoke. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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