cotillion

noun

co·​til·​lion kō-ˈtil-yən 

kə-

variants or less commonly cotillon

kō-ˈtil-yən 

kə-, 

kȯ-tē-(y)ōⁿ

1

: a ballroom dance for couples that resembles the quadrille

2

: an elaborate dance with frequent changing of partners carried out under the leadership of one couple at formal balls

3

: a formal ball

Synonyms of cotillion

• prom
• dance

Examples of cotillion in a Sentence

young men hoping to meet the women of their dreams at the cotillion

Recent Examples on the Web

My husband narrowly escaped cotillion, which was somewhat of a tradition in his family. —Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 8 Apr. 2026

For young Black girls, cotillions and debutante balls are more than just a coming of age ceremony. —Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026

If the cotillion marks a formal transition into womanhood, King approaches that idea with both reverence and intention. —Essence, 1 Apr. 2026

At the end of the Ivy Rosettes Mentoring Program, the young women make their formal debut at a cotillion. —Najahe Sherman, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French cotillon, literally, petticoat, from Old French, from cote coat

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cotillion

• castilian
• civilian
• pavilion
• postilion
• quadrillion
• reptilian
• vermilion
• vermillion
• billion
• million
• pillion
• trillion

Kids Definition

cotillion

noun

co·​til·​lion kō-ˈtil-yən 

kə-

1

: a complicated formal dance with frequent changing of partners

2

: a formal ball