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

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 One of the most powerful and impactful aspects of fashion is being able to build a community of like-minded individuals. — Greg Emmanuel, Essence, 15 Oct. 2021 Since its inception in 2003, the program has produced many masters of American fashion, including Proenza Schouler, Rodarte, Altuzarra, and Christopher John Rogers. — Ian Malone, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2021 Dave Schilling is a writer, humorist and appreciator of fashion whose work has appeared in the New Yorker, the Guardian, New York Magazine and GQ. — Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2021 This approach, known as the waterfall model, has now largely fallen out of fashion in software circles. — Greg Shepard, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2021 Swedish Fish haven't fallen out of fashion entirely, though. — Mary Ramsey, The Courier-Journal, 12 Oct. 2021 In those two sentences, author Laurence Leamer does much to explain what drew Truman Capote to a coterie of ultra-privileged women known for their beauty and their trend-setting sense of fashion. — al, 11 Oct. 2021 Salvaging materials fell out of fashion in the booming postwar decades, Palmisano said. — BostonGlobe.com, 3 Oct. 2021 The goal is to pull customers back into the art of fashion as people re-emerge from pandemic lockdowns. — Maria Halkias, Dallas News, 21 Sep. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Accessorize with a pair of slender cat-eye sunglasses, and fashion your hair into beachy, messy waves. — Julia Marzovilla, Marie Claire, 23 Sep. 2021 But teams that fashion themselves contenders and lost last week — such as the Packers, Patriots, Browns, Colts, Bills, Cowboys, Vikings, Titans, and Ravens — had better play with a lot of urgency in Week 2. — BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2021 The star of the 2011 Badgers team continues to fashion a superb NFL career, now into its 10th season. — Jr Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2021 Perpetually single but always fashion forward, with colorful suit-and-tie ensembles that rivaled Carrie's whimsical looks, Stanford was known for his quippy one-liners. — Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 22 Sep. 2021 Since the start of the pandemic, the cloth mask has evolved from homespun craft project to fashion accessory. — Karen Pallarito, Health.com, 16 Sep. 2021 Dad hats are a go-to fashion accessory for even the snobbiest among us. — Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2021 Since its mid-July opening, the West Village restaurant has attracted a glamorous crowd that can only be described as the new age New York glitterati: from Gossip Girl 2.0 actors to fashion designers to social media influencers. — Elise Taylor, Vogue, 26 July 2021 Hermès just sprouted a novel vegan leather alternative that will soon be used to fashion at least one of its storied accessories. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2021

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

Learn More About fashion

From the Editors at Merriam-Webster

Dictionary Entries Near fashion

fasherie

fashion

fashionable

Statistics for fashion

Last Updated

17 Oct 2021

Cite this Entry

“Fashion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fashion. Accessed 21 Oct. 2021.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

Seen & Heard

People are talking about

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for fashion

fashion

noun

English Language Learners Definition of fashion

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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

: clothes that are popular

fashion

verb

English Language Learners Definition of fashion (Entry 2 of 2)

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

See the full definition for fashion in the English Language Learners Dictionary

fashion

noun

fash·ion | \ ˈfa-shən

Kids Definition of fashion

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the popular style of a thing at a certain time or among a certain group

2 : manner sense 2, way "This trial will be conducted in an orderly fashion."— Kate DiCamillo, The Tale of Despereaux

fashion

verb

fashioned; fashioning

Kids Definition of fashion (Entry 2 of 2)

: to give shape or form to … getting a piece of wood, he fashioned it in a cross …— Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped

Choose the Right Synonym for fashion

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.