couture

noun cou·ture \ kü-ˈtu̇r , -ˈtᵫr \

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Examples: couture in a Sentence

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

Later acquisitions on display this summer include couture by designers Miuccia Prada and Vivienne Tam, portraits by San Francisco photographer Erica Deeman, and a quilt by Harlem artist Faith Ringgold.

— kerry lengel, azcentral, "How the Phoenix Art Museum acquired Frida Kahlo’s 'Suicide' painting," 13 July 2018
The new Fabric Discovery Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell is about so much more than couture.

— allison hagan, BostonGlobe.com, "UMass Lowell fabric center aims to make smarter clothes," 12 July 2018
Within one day, street culture was elevated to global couture, and a worldwide clamor for the products began.

— candice baker yacono, latimes.com, "Louis Vuitton South Coast Plaza reopens with store-exclusive merchandise," 12 July 2018
With her entire business based on appointment-only couture, her handcrafted dresses have won over the hearts of many an Irish socialite and actress, including the likes of Saoirse Ronan.

— todd plummer, Vogue, "A Perfect Weekend Away in Dublin," 11 July 2018
Featuring over 80 pieces from Mona’s personal collection of couture fashions, the exhibition includes iconic garments by Cristobal Balenciaga, Madeleine Vionnet, Hubert de Givenchy and fine jewelry by Belperron and Verdura.

— kirby adams, The Courier-Journal, "'Must-see' museum exhibit is in Louisville — and it features 'royalty'," 9 July 2018
Essie’s gel couture avant-garde collection in Avant-Garment is a hot hue and worthy of the makeup bag space.

— cara kelly, USA TODAY, "Packing the ultimate weekender: Our favorite products for your carry-on or beach bag," 9 July 2018
These anthropomorphic designs were luxurious and fantastical in precisely the way that makes couture so wonderful.

— emilia petrarca, The Cut, "What Paris Couture and Jonathan Franzen Have in Common," 6 July 2018
There's big hair, then there's the hair at Valentino's latest couture show.

— jenna rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, "People Are Freaking Out Over Kaia Gerber's Massive Hair Moment at Valentino," 5 July 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year