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hemline

noun
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hem·​line | \ ˈhem-ˌlīn How to pronounce hemline (audio) \

Definition of hemline

: the line formed by the lower edge of a dress, skirt, or coat

Examples of hemline in a Sentence

The hemline falls just above the knee. I shortened the hemline on the dress.
Recent Examples on the Web The pleated skirt also had some extra volume, extending out near the hemline in quasi-hoop skirt fashion. — Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, "Millie Bobby Brown Wears an Off-the-Shoulder Dress to a Stranger Things Reunion," 11 Nov. 2019 As the fashion industry stayed oblivious to public opinion, news headlines had fun with escalating the hemline war. — Marlen Komar, Vox, "The surprisingly controversial history of the midi-length skirt," 27 June 2019 Women will likely be expected to wear dresses that do not reveal too much skin—hence the high neck and long sleeves—and a modest hemline. — Tamara Abraham, Harper's BAZAAR, "Cressida Bonas Wore a Dress Just Like Kate Middleton's to Princess Eugenie's Wedding," 12 Oct. 2018 The ideal dress is long enough for its hemline to descend past the tops of evening boots. — Leah Garchik, SFChronicle.com, "The indisputable, sometimes contradictory, rules of gala gowns," 28 Aug. 2019 As temperatures rise and hemlines shorten, the temptation to show a little skin affects everyone, even royals. — Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, "Even Royals Can’t Resist a Spring Skin Reveal," 14 May 2019 With ruffle sleeves and a flared hemline, the gown featured a mix of colorful graphic stripes. — Lauren Alexis Fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, "Pippa Middleton Stuns in Colorful Temperley London Gown for Night Out," 27 Feb. 2019 Pull them on over skinny jeans or leggings, style them with a midi skirt that falls below the top of the boot, or allow a sliver of skin (or tights, come winter frost!) to peek out between your boot and a short hemline. — Avery Matera, Glamour, "17 Ways to Wear Thigh-High Boots This Winter," 11 Jan. 2019 One of the biggest trends from the last few years wasn't a type of hemline or a specific color, but rather a marked change in the way shoppers acquire their clothes. — Leah Bourne, Glamour, "There's a New Trend in Fashion Subscription Boxes—and We Put It to the Test," 10 Jan. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hemline.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of hemline

1923, in the meaning defined above

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Time Traveler for hemline

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The first known use of hemline was in 1923

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Statistics for hemline

Last Updated

29 Nov 2019

Cite this Entry

“Hemline.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hemline. Accessed 11 December 2019.

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More Definitions for hemline

hemline

noun
How to pronounce hemline (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of hemline

: the bottom edge of a dress, skirt, or coat

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

More from Merriam-Webster on hemline

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with hemline

Spanish Central: Translation of hemline

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