cheongsam

noun

cheong·​sam ˈchȯŋ-ˌsäm How to pronounce cheongsam (audio)
: a dress of southern Chinese origin with a slit skirt and a mandarin collar

Examples of cheongsam in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For an appearance on Good Morning America, the actor channeled The Parent Trap’s Annie James and Hallie Parker with a yellow plaid tweed Balmain number and a Roberto Cavalli cheongsam. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 31 July 2025 The look wove aspects of the traditional Chinese qipao, or cheongsam, such as the mandarin collar and a floral pattern, with unexpected flourishes – soft, puffy sculptures encircling the bust and hip, black lace and a thigh high slit. Stephy Chung, CNN Money, 12 May 2025 Others like to wear clothing that is traditional to their cultures, like food blogger Kristen Morita, who wears a traditional Chinese cheongsam for the holiday. Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 26 Jan. 2025 Here the singer wore a sheer take on the cheongsam, a traditional Chinese dress that became popular in the ’90s. Indya Brown, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2022 Near the beginning of the escalator system sits one of the longest-standing cheongsam workshops in town, Linva (38 Cochrane St., Central). CNN, 6 Sep. 2022 Negga variously wears fur and a chemise and a high-necked cheongsam and a golden evening gown. Helen Shaw, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2022 Traditional outfits are called cheongsam (also known as qipao) are worn in red. Anna Kim, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Chinese (Guangdong) chèuhng-sāam, literally, long gown

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cheongsam was in 1952

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cheongsam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cheongsam. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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