variants or less commonly white tie
Synonyms of white-tienext
: characterized by or requiring the wearing of formal evening clothes consisting of white bow tie and tailcoat for men and a formal gown for women
a white-tie dinner
compare black-tie

Examples of white-tie 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.
After a white-tie dinner at The White House on Tuesday, King Charles and Queen Camilla headed north to New York City on Wednesday to visit the 9/11 Memorial, the New York Public Library, and other sites, before hitting the King’s Trust Global Gala. Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 30 Apr. 2026 On Tuesday, the royal couple were greeted by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump for the white-tie event in the East Room – here's a look at all the details. Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026 The speeches are set to be followed by a state dinner at the White House, during which both Charles and Trump are expected to give toasts amid white-tie formality, CNN reported. Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2026 The royal couple attended a white-tie state dinner, visited the Children's National Medical Center and laid a wreath at the World War II Memorial. Kierra Frazier, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026 The photographer has even captured glamorous portraits of the Prince and Princess of Wales at state banquets, sometimes sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the white-tie events that call for ballgowns and tiaras. Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026 At the white-tie banquet that night were eight Trumps and 16 members of the royal family, spanning three generations − 170 guests in all. Susan Page, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026 Senior royals and esteemed guests donned their white-tie finery—and their tiaras—for a night celebrating the diplomatic ties between the two countries. Isaac Bickerstaff, Glamour, 18 Sep. 2025 His grandmother was the late Jane Dudley, who founded the Swan Ball, the annual white-tie gala. Brad Schmitt, The Tennessean, 11 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of white-tie was in 1876

Cite this Entry

“White-tie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white-tie. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

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