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

While Charles and Camilla are joining dignitaries at a black-tie state dinner at the White House, Roberts will be at his chain hotel. —Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026

Accomplished enough to deserve it, young enough to fully enjoy the friends, collaborators and family members who filled out the black-tie event, and still spicy enough to toss out some of his signature humor. —Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 19 Apr. 2026

Noun

There are thousands of dresses for every attire, from outdoor garden weddings and casual beach nuptials to glamorous black tie affairs. —Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026

Dust off your black tie—the post-Oscars break is almost over and the 2027 awards race is about to begin, in the form of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1933, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1951, in the meaning defined above