fashion

noun

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 \

Definition of fashion (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to give shape or form to : mold fashioned a sculpture of the general on his horse fashioned a career in urban restoration— Horace Sutton

b : alter, transform

c : to mold into a particular character by influencing or training

d : 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

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

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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

Can there be fashion diplomacy after detonating the nuclear option? — Robin Givhan, Houston Chronicle, "Nothing else Melania Trump wears will ever matter again," 13 July 2018 So the dress has made not only fashion history, but also tech history. — Leah Prinzivalli, SELF, "You Can Now Buy Workout Leggings Inspired by J.Lo's Iconic Versace Dress," 12 July 2018 The winner, to be chosen by a panel of judges that includes a fashion world celebrity, will have their design replicated in rental shoes at Bowlero bowling alleys across the country. — Rick Barrett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "New Berlin graphic designer named finalist in bowling shoe makeover contest," 11 July 2018 Even in the frothiest TV, there’s Friends’ Nora Bing as a Jackie Collins–style novelist, and Gossip Girl’s Eleanor Waldorf, a fashion-designer mom and a nasty piece of work who outsources maternal duties to her maid. — Katherine Fusco, The Atlantic, "Hereditary and the Monstrousness of Creative Moms," 11 July 2018 See the full look below: Meghan has had three separate fashion moments today. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "Meghan Markle Wears a Little Black Dress by Emilia Wickstead in Dublin," 10 July 2018 Known for her trademark silver hair and aquamarine eyes, throngs of famous fashion designers admired the Countess Mona von Bismarck. — Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, "'Must-see' museum exhibit is in Louisville — and it features 'royalty'," 9 July 2018 Retailers, particularly in fashion, have overhauled marketing and branding strategies to promote their individual labels among broader audiences. — Courtney Coffman, The Atlantic, "Shops Aren’t for Shopping Anymore," 19 June 2018 Roberta, a new sustainable fashion brand from Laura Mariani and Kindred Black founders Alice Wells and Jennifer Francis, only has five pieces in their capsule collection. — Sarah Spellings, The Cut, "This New Brand Has Mastered Western Style," 13 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Singaporean star Han is one of the many Asian actors who populate the film, which is clearly fashioned to appeal as much to Chinese filmgoers as American ones, though their roles are largely peripheral. — Jake Coyle, Detroit Free Press, "Review: ‘Skyscraper’ delivers stunts, dumb summer fun," 12 July 2018 LeBlanc said police searched Mikula’s residence and recovered a .9 mm handgun, Russian rifle, potassium nitrate which is a precursor to making explosives, and a PVC pipe with a hole drilled into it, which is a precursor to fashioning a pipe bomb. — Jerome Campbell, BostonGlobe.com, "East Boston man ordered held on $200,000 bail on explosive charges after apartment blast," 9 July 2018 And in the City of Light, what would fashion week be without some new takes on Le smoking? — Edward Barsamian, Vogue, "Naomi Campbell, Ashley Graham, and More of the Best Dressed at the Paris Couture Shows," 6 July 2018 Guerra has received scant run support, leading to a 5-5 record, but has fashioned a 2.87 ERA in 16 outings. — Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Haudricourt: Brewers' depth has been huge in overcoming series of injuries this season," 6 July 2018 That’s the message from the Federal Aviation Administration, which said as emphatically as skillfully fashioned legal jargon can describe Tuesday, that squeezing the nation’s expanding bottoms into shrinking airline seats is not its problem. — Ashley Halsey Iii, Washington Post, "FAA tells airline passengers ‘We’re a safety agency, not a creature comfort agency’," 3 July 2018 His joint signing with two other star free agents reimagined the superteam as something players could fashion for themselves. — Rob Mahoney, SI.com, "The Lakers Are LeBron James's Most Fascinating Construction Project," 1 July 2018 The creators have made one great improvement on their original version, fashioning a satisfying dramatic arc for protagonist Lucy Parsons, whose struggle to find her voice as a union leader nicely intertwines the personal and the political. — Justin Hayford, Chicago Reader, "Haymarket is a workmanlike ode to the working man," 28 June 2018 Spread with tomato pulp, raw garlic, and a slug of Spanish olive oil, the home-spun combo is presented as an elaborate trompe l’oeil, one fashioned to spotlight the star ingredient. — Garrett Snyder, Los Angeles Magazine, "A Meal at José Andrés’s Somni Is Nothing Short of Mind-Altering," 4 May 2018

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