variants
or less commonly black tie
: characterized by or requiring the wearing of semiformal evening clothes consisting of a usually black tie and tuxedo for men and a formal dress for women
a black-tie dinner
compare white-tie
: semiformal clothing
gentlemen in black tie for the banquet
Examples of black-tie in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
The festival, which welcomes A-list talent and up-and-coming names from around the world, did not explicitly ban flats in its dress code in the past, but festival workers were known to prohibit entry — or attempt to do so — for women in flats on various occasions at black-tie gala screenings.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
We are taxed, compassionately pass bills, paid for with Bonds, attend black tie dinners, and hear about 10-year plans after 10-year plans to solve the problem Sacramento is creating.
—Linh Tat, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for black-tie
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Adjective
John Travolta ditched basic black-tie rules.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
The festival, which welcomes A-list talent and up-and-coming names from around the world, did not explicitly ban flats in its dress code in the past, but festival workers were known to prohibit entry — or attempt to do so — for women in flats on various occasions at black-tie gala screenings.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
Noun
Murphy, along with Monteith, Lynch, Morrison, Michele and Colfer, struck a pose in their best black tie attire for Inside the Actors Studios in 2011.
—Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
We are taxed, compassionately pass bills, paid for with Bonds, attend black tie dinners, and hear about 10-year plans after 10-year plans to solve the problem Sacramento is creating.
—Linh Tat, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for black-tie
Cite this Entry
“Black-tie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black-tie. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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