tailor

1 of 2

noun

tai·​lor ˈtā-lər 

: a person whose occupation is making or altering garments (such as suits, jackets, and dresses) typically to fit a particular person

tailor

2 of 2

verb

tailored; tailoring; tailors

transitive verb

1

a

: to make or fashion as the work of a tailor

b

: to make or adapt to suit a special need or purpose

2

: to fit with clothes

3

: to style with trim straight lines and finished handwork

intransitive verb

: to do the work of a tailor

Synonyms of tailor

Verb

• adjust
• adapt
• suit
• conform
• put
• customize

Examples of tailor in a Sentence

Verb

I had my suit tailored.

They tailored the show for younger audiences.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Glancing around his storefront, the veteran tailor can name the children of all his longtime customers, who are depicted in holiday cards on his walls. —Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026

Her penchant for shirting is, by all accounts, a natural one, passed down by her father and grandfather—both bespoke tailors who instilled in her an exacting eye for quality and execution. —Talia Abbas, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2026

Verb

This ensures the thresholds are tailored not only to each facility but also to the most at-risk processes and areas within it. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 22 Apr. 2026

Pacheco pointed to the importance of tailoring applications to meet employer expectations from the outset. —Alyssa Ferro-Lloret, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English taillour, from Anglo-French taillur, from tailler, taillier to cut, from Late Latin taliare, from Latin talea plant cutting, thin piece of wood

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1719, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing tailor

• custom-tailor
• tailor-made

Rhymes for tailor

• bailer
• bailor
• baler
• jailer
• jailor
• paler
• sailer
• sailor
• scalar
• scaler
• trailer
• whaler

Kids Definition

tailor

1 of 2 noun

tai·​lor ˈtā-lər 

: a person whose occupation is making or making adjustments in outer garments

tailor

2 of 2 verb

1

: to make or fashion as the work of a tailor

2

: to make or make suitable for a special need or purpose