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

The film was recently nominated for five BIFA nominations for cinematography, editing, production design, costume design and make-up and hair design. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 10 Nov. 2026

Yet the group has inspired Halloween costumes, been elevated to headline status at rock festivals, and garnered praise from icons such as Dave Grohl, Jack White, and the rock group Rush. — Zachery Proctor, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Nov. 2026

Verb

Although the costuming department appears to have bought out every pinstripe rayon fabric available in a 50-mile radius of the Italian villa where the series is filmed, The Mob is remarkably unsophisticated. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2026

Pushkin’s Bakery This gluten-free bakery, which has locations in the Sacramento area, is offering free cupcakes to costumed customers on Halloween while supplies last. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Production designer Nikolaj Danielsen takes full advantage of the ancient Bavarian locations standing in for England, while costume designers Andras Daniel Toth and Attila Godena-Juhasz clearly worked overtime to create innumerable period outfits. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026

There was a costume parade featuring 38 corgis in diverse outfits including a dinosaur suit, a dress and doggy sports gear. — ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026