whole cloth

noun

|Updated on: 5 Jul 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

The Russians are not manufacturing an issue out of whole cloth — nationalism clearly has an authentic popular basis — but instead use their influence to magnify it.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Britain Has a Russia Collusion Scandal Now. It Looks Exactly Like Trump’s.," 22 June 2018
Trump did not invent this language from whole cloth.

— sarah jones, The New Republic, "Why Tyrants Dehumanize the Powerless," 20 June 2018
The willingness to create a character from whole cloth to talk you up to the tabloids is the sort of thing that wouldn't occur to most people.

— chris cillizza, CNN, "This 1990 Donald Trump quote in Playboy magazine explains today perfectly," 31 May 2018
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

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

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Learn More about whole cloth

See words that rhyme with whole cloth

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up whole cloth? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

whole cloth

Definition of whole cloth

Recent Examples of whole cloth from the Web

First Known Use of whole cloth

Learn More about whole cloth

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

satiety

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

The Good, The Bad, & The Semantically Imprecise - 8/17/2018

9 Words for Places People Call "Home"

'Banana Republic': A History

The Many Plurals of 'Octopus'

Ask the Editors

Ghost Word

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

The Eponym Quiz

Name That Thing

SCRABBLE® Sprint

The Good, The Bad, & The Semantically Imprecise - 8/17/2018

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

9 Words for Places People Call "Home"

Trending: Brennan: Trump's Claims are 'Hogwash'

Ghost Word

whole cloth

Definition of whole cloth

Recent Examples of whole cloth from the Web

First Known Use of whole cloth

Learn More about whole cloth

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

The Good, The Bad, & The Semantically Imprecise - 8/17/2018

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

9 Words for Places People Call "Home"

Trending: Brennan: Trump's Claims are 'Hogwash'

Ghost Word