costume

1 of 3

noun

cos·​tume ˈkä-ˌstüm 

-ˌstyüm

also -stəm

or

ˈkäs-ˌchüm 

1

: the prevailing fashion in coiffure, jewelry, and apparel of a period, country, or class

2

: an outfit worn to create the appearance characteristic of a particular period, person, place, or thing

Halloween costumes

3

: a person's ensemble of outer garments

especially : a woman's ensemble of dress with coat or jacket

costumey adjective

costume

2 of 3

verb

cos·​tume kä-ˈstüm 

-ˈstyüm

also

käs-ˈchüm 

or

ˈkä-ˌst(y)üm 

or

ˈkäs-ˌchüm 

or -stəm

costumed; costuming

transitive verb

1

: to provide with a costume

2

: to design costumes for

costume a play

costume

3 of 3

adjective

cos·​tume ˈkä-ˌstüm 

-ˌstyüm

also -stəm

or

ˈkäs-ˌchüm 

1

: characterized by the use of costumes

a costume ball

a costume drama

2

: suitable for or enhancing the effect of a particular costume

a costume handbag

Synonyms of costume

Noun

• dress
• clothes
• attire
• garb
• outfit

Verb

• dress
• clothe
• attire
• gown
• garment
• apparel

Examples of costume in a Sentence

Noun

children in their Halloween costumes

a formal 18th-century Japanese costume

Verb

the days when people, costumed in their Sunday best, would parade along the grand avenue on Easter

Adjective

You're invited to a costume party!

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Before the girls perform for Eloise, Paulina creeps into the cafeteria alone, carefully made up and dressed in baby blue chiffon (costume designer Qween Jean continues to shoot nothing but net). — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2026

There are more than 40,000 exhibits, including a digital Sistine Chapel, silent films, archive material and, of course, plenty of Star Wars and Indiana Jones costumes, props and vehicles. — Will Barker, TheWeek, 29 Sep. 2026

Verb

Neither did costume historians who worried about potential damage to the fragile dress. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2026

The long lineup of contests includes yodeling, stein holding, beer belly, costume and culminates each day in the best chicken dancer competition. — Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2026

Adjective

Behind the camera, Armin Golisano (Manitou’s Canoe) served as director of photography, Christoph Kanter (The White Ribbon, Chantal im Maerchenland) as production designer, and Mara Laibacher (Babo – The Haftbefehl Story) is costume designer. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026

Production designer Nikolaj Danielsen takes full advantage of the ancient Bavarian locations standing in for England, while costume designers Andras Daniel Toth and Attila Godena-Juhasz clearly worked overtime to create innumerable period outfits. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from Italian, custom, dress, from Latin consuetudin-, consuetudo custom — more at custom

First Known Use

Noun

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1802, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing costume

• bathing costume
• costume drama
• costume jewelry
• in costume
• national costume
• swimming costume

Rhymes for costume

• assume
• backroom
• ballroom
• barroom
• bathroom
• bedroom
• boardroom
• bridegroom
• classroom
• cloakroom
• consume
• courtroom

Kids Definition

costume

1 of 2 noun

cos·​tume ˈkäs-ˌt(y)üm 

1

: the style of clothing, ornaments, and hair characteristic of a certain period, region, or class

ancient Roman costume

peasant costume

2

: special or fancy dress (as for wear on the stage or at a masquerade party)

3

: a person's outer clothing

costume adjective

costume

2 of 2 verb

costumed; costuming

: to provide with a costume