gown

noun

ˈgau̇n 

1

a

: a usually long and formal woman's dress

a wedding gown

b

: a distinctive robe worn by a professional or academic person

a graduation gown

c

: a distinctive long outer garment worn by a member of the clergy

d

: a loose flowing outer garment worn formerly by men

e(1)

: dressing gown

(2)

: nightgown

f

: a coverall worn in an operating room

2

: the body of students and faculty of a college or university

rivalry between town and gown

gown transitive verb

Synonyms of gown

• dress

Examples of gown in a Sentence

The bride wore a lovely lace wedding gown.

a shopping trip for the express purpose of finding the perfect gown for the wedding

Recent Examples on the Web

Queen Camilla arrived at the Biennial Rifles Awards Dinner on Thursday in London wearing a red velvet gown by Fiona Clare with a midnight Daqlah layered over it. —Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 28 Nov. 2025

Kardashian inspired even more backlash after the internet noticed that the gown appeared to have been damaged during the May 2022 event — though the star denied any harm in a recent lie detector video for Vanity Fair with her All's Fair costar Teyana Taylor. —Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025

In some cases, backless bras take the form of sticky bras, boob tape, and nipple covers for fully open backs; U-plunge styles for deep fronts; low-back strapless bras for gowns that dip; and convertible options that can be reconfigured depending on the cut. —Malia Griggs, Glamour, 26 Nov. 2025

Efron was spotted shirtless on the studio lot while King, dressed in a gown, made her way from his trailer into the studio. —Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French gune, goune, from Late Latin gunna, a fur or leather garment

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1c

Phrases Containing gown

• ball gown
• dressing gown
• evening gown
• Geneva gown
• hospital gown
• tea gown

Rhymes for gown

• bown
• clown
• crown
• drown
• frown
• lown
• noun
• town
• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown

Kids Definition

gown

noun

ˈgau̇n 

1

: an official robe worn especially by a judge, a member of the clergy, or a teacher

2

: a woman's dress

especially : one suitable for afternoon or evening wear

3

: a loose robe (as a dressing gown or a nightgown)

gown verb

gowned

ˈgau̇nd

adjective

Medical Definition

gown

noun

ˈgau̇n 

: a garment designed to be worn by health care professionals or patients: such as

a

: a sterile one-piece coverall worn by health care personnel especially during a medical procedure to prevent the dispersal of bodily fluids or infectious material : surgical gown

b

: a loose robe that is usually open in the back and is worn by patients in a medical facility (such as a hospital) : hospital gown