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

Those names fill the official program, along with photos of the — ahem — fashion decisions. — Bryce Miller, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Cover your ears: Over-the-Line evolves, but the raunchy team names remain," 14 July 2018 But the Fab Five — Antoni Porowski (food), Bobby Berk (design), Karamo Brown (culture), Jonathan Van Ness (grooming) and Tan France (fashion) — are going somewhere. — Mallorie Sullivan, Cincinnati.com, "'Queer Eye' Season 3 will take place in Kansas City. Could Cincinnati be next?," 14 July 2018 Here's a recent selfie pic from the celeb to compare and contrast: Kardashian West has never been afraid to reflect on her fashion and beauty blunders of years past in good humor. — Lindsey V Thompson, Allure, "Kim Kardashian West Shares a Throwback Picture Minus Her Hair Extensions and Fake Lashes," 13 July 2018 What are the hottest tickets this year? Broadway buffs and Colts fans rejoice: Here are eight great sports, music, fashion and film events. — Sarah Bahr, Indianapolis Star, "Here's what you need to know about Black Expo 2018," 11 July 2018 Duggan and the four other finalists will be flown to New York on Aug. 7 to see their designs come to life on the fashion runway at Bowlero’s flagship location, Bowlmor Times Square. — Rick Barrett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "New Berlin graphic designer named finalist in bowling shoe makeover contest," 11 July 2018 Known for its luxury fashions and knitwear for men, particularly the mock turtlenecks once sported by Steve Jobs, St. Croix has relocated from Somerset Collection to 286 W. Maple Road, in the former J. McLaughlin store. — Rene Wisely, Detroit Free Press, "Kybun Joya Shoes, sports collectibles, sushi, whiskey fill downtowns," 9 July 2018 The Phoenix Institute offers bachelor’s programs in visual design, interior design, animation, film, gaming, fashion and culinary art. — Dennis Wagner, azcentral, "Art Institute of Phoenix not enrolling new students, reviewing its 'viability'," 2 July 2018 With the right messaging, Moretz believes that fashion and beauty ads can be a positive tool. — Hannah Pasternak, SELF, "Chloë Grace Moretz Shares Her Daily Beauty Routine," 2 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

In 2009, the pair used their new toy to build 76 BDAs, fashioned from upright posts with willow branches woven between them, on 3.4 kilometers of Bridge Creek. — Ben Goldfarb, Science | AAAS, "Beaver dams without beavers? Artificial logjams are a popular but controversial restoration tool," 7 June 2018 Even Prime Minister David Cameron will be letting his hair down as staff at Number 10 Downing Street host a street party on Sunday featuring a steel band and homemade cakes, including 'top hats' fashioned from chocolate and marshmallow. — Graham Smith, Time, "Harry and Meghan's Wedding Is a Reminder That Britain Doesn't Need the Royals," 18 May 2018 Andrew Stewart watched the original trilogy on VHS tapes and battled with his cousins with light sabers fashioned from sticks. — Karina Bland, USA TODAY, "'Star Wars' baby names? This mom went for it because there's always another Jacob out there," 14 May 2018 Élisabeth Greffulhe in a cape fashioned from a liturgical garment given to her by the czar of Russia. — Moira Hodgson, WSJ, "‘Proust’s Duchess’ Review: The Guermantes Trio," 5 July 2018 Using CT scans that are manipulated via special software, a team of engineers creates model fashioned from flexible materials that re-create the texture of the aorta and its surrounding structures. — Erin Blakemore, Washington Post, "Surgeons are using 3-D-printed organs to figure out the best way to operate," 11 June 2018 Some doctors worry that bleeding-prevention training might provide a false sense of security, noting that tourniquets help only wounds to the extremities and that improvised tourniquets — such as one fashioned from a shirt — often don’t work well. — Kathy Boccella, Philly.com, "Nothing has stopped the wave of school shootings. Now districts are buying war-zone trauma kits," 11 June 2018 The kids would play basketball with a hoop fashioned from a 20-inch bicycle rim attached to an old pole one of the kids found somewhere. — Chris Graves, Cincinnati.com, "Pike County: Death in the foothills," 15 May 2018 Andrew Stewart watched the original trilogy on VHS tapes and battled with his cousins with light sabers fashioned from sticks. — Karina Bland, azcentral, "Mom looks to 'Star Wars' for baby name, because there's always another Jacob or Emily," 11 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