couture

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noun cou·ture \ kü-ˈtu̇r , -ˈtᵫr \

Definition of couture

1 :the business of designing, making, and selling fashionable custom-made women's clothing

the world of Paris couture

2 :the designers and establishments engaged in couture

dresses made by the couture

3 :the clothes created by couture

The actress was wearing couture.

See couture defined for English-language learners

Examples of couture in a Sentence

The book discusses the relationship between culture and couture.
I can't afford to wear couture.

Recent Examples of couture from the Web

Maybe because this weird little town has a high population of childless country club doyennes with no relatives to pass their Chanel couture suits onto.

— chelsea peng, Marie Claire, "6 Crucial Tips on How to Unearth the Best Stuff at Thrift Stores," 16 Aug. 2017
The fest will also highlight urban couture fashion and abstract art.

— AL.com, "Cool things to do in Huntsville, Aug. 13-19," 13 Aug. 2017
There are turn-of-the-century shopkeepers, Tour de France cyclists, opera singers, film actors, haute couture models, and, especially, popular comic-book heroes.

— tom sancton, vanityfair.com, "These Thousand-Dollar Toys Are Not Just for Kids," 8 Aug. 2017
Theron dresses up as an MI6 killer-chick in Atomic Blonde, and Cotillard wears sackcloth couture portraying another hard-luck dame under the thumb of the patriarchy, in From the Land of the Moon.

— armond white, National Review, "From the Land of the Moon," 28 July 2017
In the two-minute video Dion dances and prances and strikes poses at the Ritz Paris while wearing mouth-watering couture creations.

— lisa gutierrez, kansascity, "Near. Far. Wherever Celine Dion is, we know this fashionista will turn heads," 21 July 2017
Nowadays, black hairstyles are being worn not just by wypipo on vacation in the Bahamas but by the Kardashians, models on haute couture runways and even white supremacists.

— angela helm, The Root, "Why Michael Vick—Who Killed Dogs—Should Have Nothing to Say to Colin Kaepernick, Who Stands Up for Black People Being Killed Like Dogs," 18 July 2017
Today's runway reunion between the two fashion forces marked Alaïa's first couture show in six years.

— lauren alexis fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, "Naomi Campbell Hit The Runway For Alaïa's Couture Comeback," 5 July 2017
Mingling with guests, Toledano said he was relieved the weather turned sunny just in time for the house’s outdoor couture show and the Les Arts Décoratifs garden party.

— katya foreman | wwd, latimes.com, "Brigitte Macron, France's first lady, attends Dior retrospective opening," 5 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'couture.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of couture

French, from Old French cousture sewing, from Vulgar Latin *consutura, from Latin consutus, past participle of consuere to sew together, from com- + suere to sew — more at sew

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1908

See Words from the same year

Other Clothing Terms

babushka, brogue, bumbershoot, cravat, dishabille, furbelow, layette, raiment, spectator

COUTURE Defined for English Language Learners

couture

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noun

Definition of couture for English Language Learners

: the business of designing, making, or selling women's clothes; also : women's clothes in general

Learn More about couture

See words that rhyme with couture Spanish Central: Translation of couture Nglish: Translation of couture for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of couture for Arabic speakers

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couture

Definition of couture

Examples of couture in a Sentence

Recent Examples of couture from the Web

Origin and Etymology of couture

Other Clothing Terms

COUTURE Defined for English Language Learners

couture

Definition of couture for English Language Learners

Learn More about couture

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