dress code

noun

: formally or socially imposed standards of dress

Examples of dress code in a Sentence

The school imposed a new dress code that forbids students from wearing jeans.

Recent Examples on the Web

Stalter made a statement with her look at the 2025 Emmys, too, subverting the event’s formal dress code. — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026

Don’t worry about packing a tux or ball gown, Seabourn has an elegant casual dress code in the evening. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026

This may not come as a shock, but Fashion Week street style stars come ready to show out in their best, but the unspoken dress code is usually some version of elevated street style. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 9 Sep. 2026

In fact, the dress code was actually eliminated during the 2025-26 season as part of early transition dates agreed upon for the new CBA. — Chris Johnston, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dress code

• abode
• anode
• barcode
• bestowed
• boatload
• borrowed
• carload
• caseload
• cathode
• commode
• corrode
• crossroad