bodice

noun

bod·​ice ˈbä-dəs 

1

: the upper part of a woman's dress

2

archaic : corset, stays

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The Fashionable History of Bodice

The term bodice is derived from body. One sense of the word body is “the part of a garment covering the body or trunk.” In the 17th and 18th centuries a woman’s corset was often called a “pair of bodies.” The plural bodies, or bodice, was eventually interpreted as a singular. Bodice is now most often used to refer to the upper part of a woman’s dress.

Learn more about bodice history

Examples of bodice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For the nuptials, Bella wore an plunging green gown with pleating on the bodice and a thigh-high slit up the floor-sweeping ruffled skirt. —Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025

The dress was from the designer’s fall 2019 ready-to-wear collection and featured a long-sleeve white bodice and lapels. —Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025

In ’50s England, her professional academic lesbian shows up in a provocatively sexy outfit with a gauzy bodice. —Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025

Emilia Wickstead kept it clean and simple with a powder-blue dress with a princess bodice. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 22 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of bodies, plural of body entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bodice

• bodice ripper

Rhymes for bodice

• addis
• goddess

Kids Definition

bodice

noun

bod·​ice ˈbäd-əs 

: the upper part of a dress