fashion

1 of 3

noun (1)

fash·​ion ˈfa-shən 

1

a(1)

: the prevailing style (as in dress) during a particular time

The spring fashions are now on display.

Short skirts were the fashion. = Short skirts were in fashion.

As some styles go out of fashion, others come into fashion.

(2)

: a garment in such a style

always wears the latest fashions

(3)

: the business of creating and selling clothes in new styles

the world of fashion

—often used before another noun

the fashion industry

fashion magazines

a fashion show

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

2

a

: 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

3

a

: 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

see also:

after a fashion

fashion

2 of 3

verb

fashioned; fashioning ˈfa-shᵊn-iŋ 

ˈfash-niŋ

; fashions

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

fashioner

ˈfa-shə-nər 

ˈfash-nər

noun

fashioner

3 of 3

noun (2)

fash·​ion·​er -nə(r) 

plural -s

: one that fashions, forms, or gives shape to something

the fashioners of the screens, choir stalls, corbels, and hammer posts of the great cathedrals

—L. F. Herreshoff

for the mind (the "spiritual") is a maker and a fashioner of quite formidable proportions

—Weston La Barre

America's most expert fashioner of the wholesome love story

—Time

especially : one that makes clothing

Synonyms of fashion

Noun (1)

• trend
• latest
• craze
• vogue
• style
• rage
• enthusiasm

Verb

• tailor
• adapt
• adjust
• suit
• conform
• shape
• put

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of fashion in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

While fashion cycles continue to accelerate—microtrends anchoring and evaporating in the span of a season—the twins have remained steadfast in their aesthetic convictions, causing the masses to forage and collect the few visuals of them doing just so. —Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 12 June 2026

The late fashion designer Alexander McQueen once said there’s blood beneath every layer of skin, and barely concealed under the cheer chants and bubblegrunge guitars was a scrabbling, clawing desperation. —Walden Green, Pitchfork, 12 June 2026

Verb

Westside Square, which opened in 2022, also featured live entertainment and its space was distinctive for its enclosure fashioned out of repurposed windows. —Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2026

The team aimed to fashion a rotting meat smell to recreate this slightly unhygienic oral arrangement. —Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 11 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing fashion

• after a fashion
• all the fashion
• Bristol fashion
• fall out of fashion
• fashion-forward
• fashion plate
• fashion show
• fashion victim
• fast fashion
• high fashion
• make a fashion statement
• parrot-fashion

Rhymes for fashion

• ashen
• passion
• ration
• compassion
• internation

Kids Definition

fashion

1 of 2 noun

fash·​ion ˈfash-ən 

1

: the shape or form of something

2

: manner sense 2, way

behave in a strange fashion

3

: a common style especially of dress during a particular time or among a certain group

an idea that is out of fashion

fashion

2 of 2 verb

fashioned; fashioning ˈfash-(ə-)niŋ 

: to give shape or form to

fashioner

-(ə-)nər 

noun

Etymology

Noun

Middle English facioun "shape, manner," from early French façon (same meaning), from Latin faction-, factio "action of making," from facere "to make, do" — related to artificial, benefit, confection, factory, manufacture, perfect, satisfy