peplum

noun

pep·​lum ˈpe-pləm How to pronounce peplum (audio)
: a short section attached to the waistline of a blouse, jacket, or dress
peplumed adjective

Illustration of peplum

Illustration of peplum

Examples of peplum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There was a draping red satin gown paired with black gloves, a plunging diaphanous chartreuse number paired with a cape, a leather and lace peplum moment, and a statuesque shredded silver gown, to name just a few. Meg Walters, InStyle, 22 Feb. 2026 Take Keke Palmer in a butter yellow and cream vintage Dior bustier dress with a scarf-tie waist, or Kate Hudson, who combined all the mid-10s and boho trends by wearing a leathery peplum and balloon pants by Chloé. Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 16 Feb. 2026 Trousers peeled away to reveal that top block of jeans; a pencil skirt was spliced to create a peplum silhouette. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 10 Feb. 2026 Just days after serving a masterclass in clever layering while out in Los Angeles, Seyfried caught our attention yet again by styling a black peplum top with a trendy pair of two-tone straight-leg jeans during a visit to New York City. Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for peplum

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek peplon peplos

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of peplum was in 1866

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Cite this Entry

“Peplum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peplum. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.

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