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
Kayla Grant, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
From black-tie glamour to relaxed celebration evenings, here’s how the tradition has evolved.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Formal nights take this up another level, with tuxedos, black ties, and elegant gowns strongly expected.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for black-tie
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.
Adjective
The black-tie wedding was held at an Italian-style villa that featured panoramic views.
—Kayla Grant, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
From black-tie glamour to relaxed celebration evenings, here’s how the tradition has evolved.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
The video received over 724,000 views and hundreds of comments from viewers weighing in on which was the best options, with many saying none were formal enough for black tie.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Formal nights take this up another level, with tuxedos, black ties, and elegant gowns strongly expected.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
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 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share