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

Georgia May Jagger is the new face of Mackage, in a holiday campaign that features black-tie underpinnings beneath Mackage outerwear. — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026

In Washington, Zampolli, who had just been fired from the Administration, was hosting an after-party for a black-tie dinner at his Dupont Circle town house. — Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

Noun

In the campaign, the men are also in black tie, photographed in such looks as the high-gloss down Kane-Glo vest and Kent-Glo jacket with removable hood and the Otto-PB pebble leather jacket. — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026

These guys that would wear full black tie and go out on the ice with a tray laden with a Champagne bucket, Champagne coupes, the whole lot, and do tricks out on the ice. — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1933, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1951, in the meaning defined above