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

Bindi wore a baby pink dress with flowers on the bodice, matching her daughter Grace's mini version. —Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025

Sweeney’s custom look took six weeks to make and is like-for-like, from the three-dimensional star appliqués across the bodice and hips, to the corseted back and flippy, chainmail-like skirt. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2025

The full skirt also offered textural contrast to the velvet bodice, creating an autumnal motif evocative of the season. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2025

Emilia Wickstead also showed a simple denim dress with a corset bodice. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 29 Sep. 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