black-tie

1 of 2

adjective

ˈblak-ˌtī 

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

black tie

2 of 2

noun

: semiformal clothing

gentlemen in black tie for the banquet

Examples of black-tie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Best cocktail maxidresses When dress codes fall into the vague space between cocktail and black-tie, always err on the side of caution. —Kristina Rutkowski, Glamour, 10 Dec. 2025

For example, proud debutante parents Bassett and Vance could be seen dancing together in their black-tie attire in a a TikTok shared after the ultra-exclusive event. —Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025

Noun

This section is largely inspired by the tastes of Laila Gohar, who has a knack for making black tie refinement a little tongue-in-cheek with her brand Gohar World. —Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Nov. 2025

Curtis wore a black suit with a light, muted blue dress shirt with a sharp collar and pinstripes, paired with a black tie to complement his double-breasted blazer and pocket square. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 18 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1933, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1951, in the meaning defined above