Synonyms of costume

costume 1 of 3

noun

ˈkä-ˌstüm 

1

as in dress

clothing chosen as appropriate for a specific situation

a tuxedo is the only acceptable costume for men attending a formal event

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dress
• clothes
• attire
• garb
• outfit
• getup
• togs
• apparel
• guise
• style
• drag
• raiment
• mode
• duds
• vestments
• habiliment(s)
• fashion
• array
• caparison

2

as in mask

clothing put on to hide one's true identity or imitate someone or something else

Halloween costumes that caricature some of the "celebrities" created by the media over the past year

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mask
• camouflage
• guise
• disguise
• dress
• veil
• paint
• visor
• coloring
• makeup
• costumery
• outfit
• getup
• rig
• domino
• cosmetic
• vizard

costume

2 of 3

verb

kä-ˈstüm 

as in to dress

to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes

the days when people, costumed in their Sunday best, would parade along the grand avenue on Easter

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dress
• clothe
• attire
• gown
• garment
• apparel
• garb
• toilet
• suit
• habit
• deck (out)
• rig (out)
• array
• robe
• drape
• wrap
• jacket
• dress up
• get up
• bedeck
• vesture
• uniform
• outfit
• tog (up or out)
• enrobe
• caparison
• cloak
• vest
• frock
• invest
• do up
• mantle
• furnish
• tailor
• swaddle
• equip
• huddle
• dress down
• swathe
• hap
• bedight
• accoutre
• enswathe
• underdress
• habilitate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strip
• undress
• disarray
• disrobe
• unclothe
• uncover
• untruss
• divest
• unveil
• denude
• undrape

costume

3 of 3

adjective

as in costumey

Related Words

• dress
• costumey
• dressy
• formal
• fashionable
• stylish
• chic
• dapper
• in
• natty
• evening
• modish
• fitted
• tailored
• smart
• white-tie
• black-tie
• snappy
• custom-made
• semiformal
• sharp

Dissimilar Words

• informal
• casual
• street
• sporty
• unfashionable
• outmoded
• dowdy
• sportif
• untidy
• sloppy
• slovenly
• unkempt
• wrinkled
• grungy
• messy
• rumpled
• disheveled
• styleless
• mussy
• frowsy
• unstylish
• sloven

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of costume

Noun

As a parent who has purchased my share of scary Halloween costumes, I was particularly disturbed by the controversy now engulfing Target. — Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2026

Identity is not a costume or a feeling but rather a legal and political status. — Tommy Orange, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026

Verb

The seasonal job is part of her plan to eventually move to New York City and pursue her dream of working in wardrobe and costuming for Broadway, film and other productions. — Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 19 July 2026

Sandy Powell has long been an inspiration to costume designers around the world, and her involvement as Ambassador brings an exceptional level of creative insight and industry leadership to the programme. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 9 July 2026

Adjective

Russian strikes also damaged Kyiv’s Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio, which holds the country’s largest and oldest costume collection. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 15 June 2026

For their imaginative daring, co-directors Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch were justly honored as were costume designer Qween Jean and choreographers Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons, among the production’s notable awards. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026