whole cloth

noun

|Updated on: 7 Jun 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

In fact, Balogun only looks like a threat at all when viewed through the lens that the FBI fabricated whole cloth.

— luke darby, GQ, "The FBI Held a Black Activist for 5 Months for Legally Owning a Gun and Attending a Protest," 12 May 2018
Crucially, the Sisters are onstage for the opening scene, created by the directors out of whole cloth, in which Chaon Cross's Lady Macbeth mourns over a small coffin containing what appears to be her own stillborn baby.

— tony adler, Chicago Reader, "Aaron Posner and Teller’s Macbeth is no Tempest," 9 May 2018
Some prescriptive usage rules seem so arbitrary and unnecessary as to be made out of whole cloth.

— john e. mcintyre, baltimoresun.com, "A bogus rule collides with the English language," 1 May 2018
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

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

in the meaning defined above

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