fashion

noun

Save Word

fash·ion | \ ˈfa-shən

Definition of fashion

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a(1) : the prevailing style (as in dress) during a particular time The spring fashions are now on display.

(2) : a garment in such a style always wears the latest fashions

b : a prevailing custom, usage, or style Literary fashions have changed in recent years.

c : social standing or prominence especially as signalized by dress or conduct men and women of fashion

2a : mode of action or operation assembled in an orderly fashion not even changing fashions in warfare have diminished the island's strategic importance— Franc Shor

b : a distinctive or peculiar and often habitual manner or way he will, after his sour fashion, tell you— William Shakespeare

3a : the make or form of something A lamp in the fashion of a silver dove was hung from an almost invisible golden wire in the centre of the room.— Arthur Conan Doyle

b archaic : kind, sort

after a fashion

: in an approximate or rough way became an artist after a fashion

fashion

verb

fashioned; fashioning\ ˈfash-niŋ

, ˈfa-shᵊn-iŋ \; fashions

Definition of fashion (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to give shape or form to : to make, construct, or create (something) usually with careful attention or by the use of imagination and ingenuity fashion a lamp from an old churn a figure fashioned from clay … delegating to the commander-in-chief the power to fashion the rules of the military justice system …— Fred Strasser Up there in the mountains old ladies … are still hooking rugs … and fashioning dainty dolls out of corn shucks.— Richard Atcheson

2 : to design or devise for a particular use or purpose … were the vessels fashioned for royalty distinguished from objects intended for nonroyal consumers? — Asian Art

3 obsolete : contrive

Other Words from fashion Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about fashion

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for fashion

Noun

fashion, style, mode, vogue, fad, rage, craze mean the usage accepted by those who want to be up-to-date. fashion is the most general term and applies to any way of dressing, behaving, writing, or performing that is favored at any one time or place. the current fashion style often implies a distinctive fashion adopted by people of taste. a media baron used to traveling in style mode suggests the fashion of the moment among those anxious to appear elegant and sophisticated. slim bodies are the mode at this resort vogue stresses the wide acceptance of a fashion. short skirts are back in vogue fad suggests caprice in taking up or in dropping a fashion. last year's fad is over rage and craze stress intense enthusiasm in adopting a fad. Cajun food was the rage nearly everywhere for a time crossword puzzles once seemed just a passing craze but have lasted

synonyms see in addition method

Noun

fashion, style, and fad mean the way that up-to-date people do things. fashion is used of any custom (as a way of dressing or behaving) that is widely accepted at any one time or place. It was once the fashion for everyone to wear hats. style may suggest a fashion that is approved of by people with taste. The house was decorated in the latest style. fad is used for something that is very popular and often only for a short time. Beach tennis may be just a fad.

Examples of fashion in a Sentence

Noun Jewelry and clothing fashions vary with the season. Short skirts have come back into fashion. Those ruffled blouses went out of fashion years ago. She always wears the latest fashions. Literary fashions have changed in recent years. We started the meeting in an orderly fashion. We all lined up in orderly fashion. Verb Students fashioned the clay into small figures. She used the scraps of fabric to fashion a little doll's dress. a table fashioned out of an old door

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Brazier's counterpart on the women's side, Ajee Wilson, also set an American indoor record Saturday — and in similar fashion. — Tom Schad, USA TODAY, "Donavan Brazier surges to another American record — and as Tokyo nears, he's just getting started," 9 Feb. 2020 But so was its humor, which, in true Baumbach fashion, is inextricable from its pain: the machinery of divorce is just that awful and absurd. — Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, "Oscars 2020 Spotlight: Best Picture," 7 Feb. 2020 The concerto became a dramatic push-pull, the orchestra launching ideas in extroverted fashion, Altstaedt refashioning them as interior monologue. — Washington Post, "National Symphony Orchestra considers the one and the many in program of Grieg, Dvorak and Nielsen," 7 Feb. 2020 And at the very first contest, the party faceplanted in unprecedented fashion, botching the caucus worse than it has ever been botched. — Ryan Cooper, TheWeek, "American democracy is dying," 7 Feb. 2020 Fox matches Sandler’s frenetic energy at every turn, and cuts him down to size in hilarious fashion. — Ben Flanagan | Bflanagan@al.com, al, "Forget the Oscars! Our favorite movie performances of 2019," 7 Feb. 2020 The regional meet has been tightly competitive and balanced in recent years, with Ryle winning the title last year in walkoff fashion after Noah Duke won his regional final match by pin to end the tournament. — James Weber, Cincinnati.com, "Five storylines heading into the Northern Kentucky regional wrestling tournament," 7 Feb. 2020 Meagher, known online by the moniker Haute le Mode, is a critic for a new age in fashion, one who digests industry happenings via YouTube videos and Instagram memes. — Erin Cunningham, Teen Vogue, "How Luke Meagher of Haute le Mode Got His Start on YouTube and in Fashion," 6 Feb. 2020 Doing this root flare exposure in a dramatic fashion is the most important step of the Sick Tree Treatment. — Howard Garrett, Dallas News, "How to solve problems with photinias without toxic chemicals," 6 Feb. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb His personal projects run from upbeat house to wonky trap, mechanical ambient IDM and good-old fashioned catchy grooves. — Billboard Staff, Billboard, "Billboard Dance Emerging Artists: January 2020," 15 Jan. 2020 Last fall, Abbott’s top strategist told The Dallas Morning News that the groups are fashioning a plan to fend off Democrats’ designs on the House — since augmented by former presidential hopeful Beto O’Rourke’s creation of a PAC. — Robert T. Garrett, Dallas News, "Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has big political goals — and more cash to back them up," 14 Jan. 2020 Buffeted by the exodus of production from Hollywood and the march of time, the man who spent four decades fashioning the look of the future wants to focus on his own. — Los Angeles Times, "Newsletter: What will Iran do next?," 9 Jan. 2020 In addition to brewpub fashioned suds, the location will offer its four collaborators' beers. — Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, "4 Alabama breweries teaming up for new brewpub," 31 Dec. 2019 Caron Tabb spent hours in her Newton driveway, torching wooden pallets and fashioning chicken wire. — BostonGlobe.com, "Her Hanukkah menorah — 20 feet long and 8 feet tall — is now on display at the Museum of Fine Arts.," 21 Dec. 2019 This was evidenced when a 13-year-old girl from south Manchester, England, was allegedly told that she would be sent home from school for fashioning her hair to look like a Christmas tree. — Kaleigh Fasanella, Allure, "This Teen Wore Her Hair Styled Like a Christmas Tree — Lights and All," 21 Dec. 2019 The Rise of the Celeb Creative Director In the 2010s, there were two types of fashion people: those who could name the creative directors at every major house and those who weren’t actually fashion people. — Faran Krentcil, Harper's BAZAAR, "12 Ways Fashion Was Defined in the 2010s," 19 Dec. 2019 Tom Hanks has landed another good guy role, this time as Fred Rogers, the creator and host of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, the wildly successful children’s program that emphasized values like kindness, patience, and good old fashioned fun. — Vogue, "Won’t You Be My Cardigan? Nine Investment Sweaters Inspired by Mr. Rogers," 29 Nov. 2019

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

History and Etymology for fashion

Noun

Middle English fasoun, fasioun, fascioun, facioun, borrowed from Anglo-French façun, fauschoun "production, construction, appearance, form, sort, manner," going back to Latin factiōn-, factiō "act of making," from facere "to make, bring about, do" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at fact

Note: The Anglo-French form with a hushing consonant that was borrowed into Middle English reflects the Picard outcome of the Latin cluster [ktj]. A doublet of faction.

Verb

Middle English fascionen, in part verbal derivative of fascioun fashion entry 1, in part borrowed from Middle French façonner, derivative of façon fashion entry 1

Keep scrolling for more