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
Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 27 Feb. 2026
Sure, black-tie gowns and garden wedding guest dresses will always be an option, but why not try some playful alternatives?
—Sarah Zendejas, Vogue, 26 Feb. 2026
Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
Tickets priced at $300 per person, black tie.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for black-tie
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Adjective
Formal dress codes can be confounding—but of course, Bessette-Kennedy found an outfit that works for black-tie ceremonies and cocktail celebrations alike.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 27 Feb. 2026
Sure, black-tie gowns and garden wedding guest dresses will always be an option, but why not try some playful alternatives?
—Sarah Zendejas, Vogue, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
Your partner is right about what passes for black tie these days.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
Tickets priced at $300 per person, black tie.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 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 3 Mar. 2026.
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