whole cloth

noun

Updated on: 30 Mar 2018

Definition of whole cloth

: pure fabrication —usually used in the phrase out of whole cloth

the theory was created out of whole cloth

Recent Examples of whole cloth from the Web

But some Republicans warn that the Court could divine a new standard from whole cloth that could create confusion.

— the editorial board, WSJ, "The GOP’s Internet Tax," 15 Mar. 2018
Rivera said the agency isn't trying to create new neighborhoods out of whole cloth.

— andrew theen, OregonLive.com, "Sixth Sextant? City considering changing thousands of addresses to 'South Portland'," 28 Feb. 2018
From one such static image, an algorithm can quickly create a moving, lifelike avatar: a video not recorded but fabricated from whole cloth by software.

— benjamin oreskes, latimes.com, "Essential California: Trump still at war with state over earthquake early warning system," 20 Feb. 2018
On occasion, the president has simply invented Islamist terrorist attacks out of whole cloth.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "The President Seems to Think a Second 9/11 Would Have Its Upsides," 30 Jan. 2018
But Belichick does love inventing new stuff out of whole cloth.

— peter king, SI.com, "Kraft, Belichick and Brady: The Marvel Is That the Patriots Dynasty Has Lasted This Long," 5 Jan. 2018
The fakes are sometimes created from whole cloth—or rather, from whole plaster.

— ed yong, The Atlantic, "How to Tell If a Dinosaur Is Fake," 8 Dec. 2017
Believing Hill required believing that a federal judge on the verge of Supreme Court confirmation would perjure himself; believing Thomas required believing that Hill would have fabricated vivid allegations out of whole cloth.

— david a. graham, The Atlantic, "What About Clarence Thomas?," 20 Dec. 2017
Social scientists generally, and Cuddy in particular, stand accused of making up interesting phenomena out of whole cloth.

— New York Times, "The 10.22.17 Issue," 3 Nov. 2017

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

First Known Use of whole cloth

1823

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