fashion

play

noun fash·ion \ˈfa-shən\

Definition of fashion

1a : the make or form of something fashioned a sculpture of the general on his horse fashioned a career in urban restoration — Horace Suttonb archaic : kind, sort
2a : a distinctive or peculiar and often habitual manner or way he will, after his sour fashion, tell you — William Shakespeareb : 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
3a : a prevailing custom, usage, or styleb (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 fashionsc : social standing or prominence especially as signalized by dress or conduct men and women of fashion

after a fashion

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

See fashion defined for English-language learners

See fashion defined for kids

Examples of fashion in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of fashion from the Web

At the apex of Abbot Kinney’s affection for beach-chic fashion and the freshest of local produce sits Gjelina, the first of Travis Lett’s growing cadre of Westside restaurants.

— garrett snyder, Los Angeles Magazine, "The Los Angeles Magazine Hot Restaurant List for July 2017," 18 July 2017
McGrath, who, according to Vogue, works on more than 60 shows every fashion season, is widely considered to be one of the most influential makeup artists of our time.

— vanityfair.com, "Pat McGrath’s Most Luxurious Launch Yet: Lust MatteTrance Lipsticks," 13 July 2017
This summer, The Cup will receive 5,000 menstrual cups thanks to a collaboration between Monki, a fashion brand with the H&M Group, and Lunette, a Finish menstrual cup company.

— abigail jones, MSNBC Newsweek, "The Period Movement: Meet the Men Fighting to Stop Menstruation-Shaming in the Developing World," 12 July 2017
The Western-style draping incorporates popular international fashion elements alongside a sense of high-quality professionalism.

— tess koman, Cosmopolitan, "Airline Debuts New Haute Couture Uniforms for Flight Attendants at Paris Fashion Week," 10 July 2017
Flat wire was used in fashion as well as industry, writes Alfred.

— kat eschner, Smithsonian, "How Hoop Skirts Led to Tape Measures," 8 July 2017
When Some People Couldn't Handle Lucinda Chambers' Truth For non-fashion people, this was a short but excruciatingly long week after a holiday.

— chelsea peng, Marie Claire, "Petty Party: The Most Guiltily Satisfying Celebrity Things That Happened This Week," 7 July 2017
What's the biggest fashion faux pas a person can commit: Oh, there are so many.

— kirby adams, The Courier-Journal, "Fashion feeds Mayan Cafe owner's need for innovation," 6 July 2017
For Elie Saab's newest couture collection, the muse was medieval fashion.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Elie Saab's Couture Collection Puts a High-Fashion Spin on Game of Thrones," 5 July 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of fashion

Middle English facioun, fasoun shape, manner, from Anglo-French façun, fauschoun, from Latin faction-, factio act of making, faction, from facere to make — more at do

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

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Synonym Discussion of fashion

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

Other Fashion Terms

bodkin, chignon, cowlick, eau de toilette, imperial, pocket, pomander, tonsorial

fashion

verb fash·ion

Definition of fashion

fashioned

;

fashioning

play \ˈfash-niŋ, ˈfa-sh^ən-iŋ\

transitive verb
1a : to give shape or form to : moldb : alter, transformc : to mold into a particular character by influencing or trainingd : to make or construct usually with the use of imagination and ingenuity fashion a lamp from an old churn
2 : fit, adapt
3 obsolete : contrive

fashioner

play \ˈfash-nər, ˈfa-shə-nər\ noun

See fashion defined for English-language learners

Examples of fashion in a Sentence

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 of fashion from the Web

From beer festivals to good ol’ fashioned fire work shows, here’s a list of things to do during the (extended) Fourth of July weekend.

— leslie hackett, Pacific San Diego Magazine, "San Diego: This Weekend (June 29-July 4)," 29 June 2017
Working in a makeshift library fashioned out of sticks and plastic tarps, Sebastian Contreras, a Chilean volunteer at the FARC camp, was putting the doctors through their mathematical paces.

— jim wyss, miamiherald, "She’s performed amputations and saved hundreds of lives — without a medical degree," 16 June 2017
Cocktails include a barrel-aged old fashioned, the signature Empire Sunset (made with rum, vodka and citrus) and carafe cocktails, including a pineapple-jalapeno margarita and Prohibition Punch.

— CNN Travel, "8 of New York City's best rooftop bars," 13 June 2017
Pryor, like many other Lost Cause advocates, fashioned a beguiling version of the evil image of Reconstruction.

— david blight, The Atlantic, "The Battle for Memorial Day in New Orleans," 29 May 2017
Having played primarily in Mexico, as well as Nicaragua and his native Venezuela, the 26-year-old has fashioned a 180-degree turnaround in pursuit of a return to the U.S. and the affiliated ranks.

— michael osipoff, Post-Tribune, "Ex-Marlins farmhand Wilfredo Gimenez gets back on track with RailCats," 28 May 2017
The band's keyboardist made sure of it, performing behind a large plastic bag, fashioned into a tarp.

— AL.com, "These were some of the best artists at Hangout 2017," 23 May 2017
Johnson has fashioned a terrific career out of combining his imposing physique with light comedy and even musicals.

— jon niccum, kansascity.com, "Waves of despair: Not even Dwayne Johnson can save ‘Baywatch’," 23 May 2017
Other works include a bald eagle set against a U.S. flag that retired high school teacher Carl Lopes partly fashioned from shingles and aluminum roof vents.

— bob salsberg, The Seattle Times, "JFK home renovation castoffs are transformed into art," 14 May 2017

Origin and Etymology of fashion

see ¹fashion

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

FASHION Defined for English Language Learners

fashion

play

noun

Definition of fashion for English Language Learners

: a popular way of dressing during a particular time or among a particular group of people
: the business of creating and selling clothes in new styles
fashions : clothes that are popular

fashion

verb

Definition of fashion for English Language Learners

: to form (something) into something else : to make (something) from something else

FASHION Defined for Kids

fashion

play

noun fash·ion \ˈfa-shən\

Definition of fashion for Students

1 : the popular style of a thing at a certain time or among a certain group
2 : manner 2, way “This trial will be conducted in an orderly fashion.” — Kate DiCamillo, The Tale of Despereaux