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
cos·tume
kä-ˈstüm
-ˈstyüm,
also käs-ˈchüm;
or ˈkä-ˌst(y)üm,
or
ˈkäs-ˌchüm
or
-stəm
costumed; costuming
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
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
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2025
Other Tonys went to the show’s director, choreographer, orchestrating team and its scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 June 2025
Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 18 June 2025
Doing so entailed spending $150,000 in first-year start-up costs like costuming and sound equipment, creating everything from backing tracks to background visuals, booking 100-plus gigs and swiftly quitting her wealth management job.
—Leena Tailor, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2025
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 June 2025
The three-day event gathers film and TV industry professionals related to SCAD’s degree programs for acting, film and television, production design, costume design and fashion for a program of screening, talks and networking.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for costume
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Noun
The costume designer is Tilly Grimes, whom Goldstein has worked with before.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2025
Other Tonys went to the show’s director, choreographer, orchestrating team and its scenic, costume, lighting and sound designers.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 June 2025
Verb
For global travelers, Times Square a must-see, standing among the skyscrapers and screens among the street performers and costumed characters luring travelers (and SNL comedians, as Colin Jost told Travel + Leisure).
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 18 June 2025
Doing so entailed spending $150,000 in first-year start-up costs like costuming and sound equipment, creating everything from backing tracks to background visuals, booking 100-plus gigs and swiftly quitting her wealth management job.
—Leena Tailor, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2025
Adjective
Audiences expect costume epics to be beautiful and kinetic – flying swords, graceful choreography.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 June 2025
The three-day event gathers film and TV industry professionals related to SCAD’s degree programs for acting, film and television, production design, costume design and fashion for a program of screening, talks and networking.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for costume
Cite this Entry
“Costume.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/costume. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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