décolleté

1 of 2

adjective

dé·​col·​le·​té (ˌ)dā-ˌkäl-ˈtā 

-ˌkȯl-, 

-lə-ˈtā;

also dā-ˈkȯl-tā

1

: wearing a strapless or low-necked dress

décolleté young women

2

: having a low-cut neckline

a décolleté dress

décolleté

2 of 2

noun

variants or less commonly decollete

: décolletage

Examples of décolleté in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Cut off the shoulder with decollete necklines, this gown will never go out of style! — Michael Lee Simpson, Peoplemag, 13 Aug. 2023

Noun

The iconic flacon features a signature dip designed to evoke a woman’s decollete neckline, while its clean silhouette draws inspiration from the geometry of Roman columns. — Anne Bratskeir, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2026

Stewart uses her own Elm Bioscience’s A30 Elemental Night Cream in the morning, tapping it into her decollete under a layer of Alastin HydraTint Pro Mineral Sunscreen. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2026

The robe whispers romance in the way the collar effortlessly falls over the decollete, and the hem gently graces the top of the knee. — Belle Duchene, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2022

Along with minimizing wrinkles on their face, neck, and decollete, the cream works well for fading dark stretch marks, shoppers say. — Stephanie Perry, Southern Living, 21 June 2021

The bodice had an off-the-shoulder decollete, while the shoulder-length puffed sleeves were of silk marquisette. — Sue Strachan, NOLA.com, 22 Feb. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from French, "having the neck and shoulders exposed, (of a dress) having a low-cut neckline," from past participle of décolleter "to expose the neck and shoulders," from dé- de- + -colleter, derivative of collet "collar, neck (of a butcher cut)" — more at collet

Noun

borrowed from French, noun derivative of décolleté décolleté entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1831, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1894, in the meaning defined above