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
Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 1 Feb. 2026
A week earlier, the White House hosted a black-tie preview attended by Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy, Apple chief executive Tim Cook and former boxer Mike Tyson.
—Jake Coyle, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
Often, items like glamorous black tie gowns that are too special or high-end for the donation pile or an average consignment store will find their way here.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for black-tie
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Adjective
The Orpheus parade always rolls on the Monday immediately before Mardi Gras Day and culminates with the epic black-tie Orpheuscapade (more on that later).
—Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 1 Feb. 2026
A week earlier, the White House hosted a black-tie preview attended by Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy, Apple chief executive Tim Cook and former boxer Mike Tyson.
—Jake Coyle, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
Noun
Trump donned a black tie for the event.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
Often, items like glamorous black tie gowns that are too special or high-end for the donation pile or an average consignment store will find their way here.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 31 Jan. 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 9 Feb. 2026.
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