fashion

1 of 2

noun

fash·ion ˈfa-shən

Synonyms of fashion next

a(1)

: the prevailing style (as in dress) during a particular time

The spring fashions are now on display.

(2)

: a garment in such a style

always wears the latest fashions

: a prevailing custom, usage, or style

Literary fashions have changed in recent years.

: social standing or prominence especially as signalized by dress or conduct

men and women of fashion

: mode of action or operation

assembled in an orderly fashion

not even changing fashions in warfare have diminished the island's strategic importance—

Franc Shor

: a distinctive or peculiar and often habitual manner or way

he will, after his sour fashion, tell you—

William Shakespeare

: the make or form of something

A lamp in the fashion of a silver dove was hung from an almost invisible golden wire in the centre of the room.—

Arthur Conan Doyle

archaic : kind, sort

fashion

2 of 2

verb

fashioned; fashioning ˈfash-niŋ

ˈfa-shᵊn-iŋ

; fashions

transitive verb

: to give shape or form to : to make, construct, or create (something) usually with careful attention or by the use of imagination and ingenuity

fashion a lamp from an old churn

a figure fashioned from clay

… delegating to the commander-in-chief the power to fashion the rules of the military justice system …—

Fred Strasser

Up there in the mountains old ladies … are still hooking rugs … and fashioning dainty dolls out of corn shucks.—

Richard Atcheson

: to design or devise for a particular use or purpose

… were the vessels fashioned for royalty distinguished from objects intended for nonroyal consumers?—

Asian Art

obsolete : contrive

fashioner

ˈfash-nər

ˈfa-shə-nər

noun

Phrases

after a fashion

: in an approximate or rough way

became an artist after a fashion

Choose the Right Synonym for fashion

fashion, style, mode, vogue, fad, rage, craze mean the usage accepted by those who want to be up-to-date.

fashion is the most general term and applies to any way of dressing, behaving, writing, or performing that is favored at any one time or place.

the current fashion

style often implies a distinctive fashion adopted by people of taste.

a media baron used to traveling in style

mode suggests the fashion of the moment among those anxious to appear elegant and sophisticated.

slim bodies are the mode at this resort

vogue stresses the wide acceptance of a fashion.

short skirts are back in vogue

fad suggests caprice in taking up or in dropping a fashion.

last year's fad is over

rage and craze stress intense enthusiasm in adopting a fad.

Cajun food was the rage nearly everywhere for a time

crossword puzzles once seemed just a passing craze but have lasted

synonyms see in addition method

Example Sentences

Noun Jewelry and clothing fashions vary with the season. Short skirts have come back into fashion. Those ruffled blouses went out of fashion years ago. She always wears the latest fashions. Literary fashions have changed in recent years. We started the meeting in an orderly fashion. We all lined up in orderly fashion. Verb Students fashioned the clay into small figures. She used the scraps of fabric to fashion a little doll's dress. a table fashioned out of an old door See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Headlines and highlights The 2023 high school soccer season came to a close in exhilarating fashion over the weekend with three of the four title games between Division I and II being deciding in overtime periods. —

Josh Reed, Anchorage Daily News, 31 May 2023 Another stop on John B and Sarah's day trip, this colorful fashion brand is known for its very-Southern styles for both men and women. —

Andrea Romano, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2023 New York upset the Donovan Mitchell-led Cleveland Cavaliers in convincing fashion in the first round. —

Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY, 31 May 2023 Accompanying these entries a selection of photographs and personal images that have been accumulated throughout his life and 48 years of his fashion label. —

Isiah Magsino, Town & Country, 31 May 2023 Inspired by the fashion born from Tokyo club culture and the rave scene, the collection will be housed in the Terminal Gallery Room with a presentation that leans into Pop Art aesthetics. —

The Editors, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2023 Lisa Rinna attends Chanel’s cruise 2023/2024 show in L.A. Variety Rinna is another star having an unexpected fashion moment. —

Randi Bergman, ELLE, 31 May 2023 But his broader theme envisioned Democrats reclaiming their history of populist organizing in Texas—albeit this time in a more inclusive fashion. —

Dana Liebelson, The New Republic, 29 May 2023 Right now, nearly 5,000 women’s fashion deals are waiting to be scooped up in the Nordstrom Rack clearance section, and discounts go up to 79 percent off. —

Claire Harmeyer, Peoplemag, 29 May 2023

Verb

Holofcener has fashioned a wonderful career mining her characters’ angst and annoyances. —

Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2023 That gig came with an internet show, produced by the magazine, where Murphy fashioned himself as something of a cross between the sophisticated Anthony Bourdain and the greasy-spoon aficionado Guy Fieri. —

Ben Terris, Washington Post, 26 May 2023 Pike Road’s Yvette Gorden fashioned a strong 4-under 68 to lead the pack at the Patriots took the first-day team lead with a 230 total. —

Al.com Reports, al, 16 May 2023 Were the first ice cream cones fashioned from waffles at the 1904 St. Louis fair to replace cups that had run out? —

Cassie Werber, Quartz, 2 May 2023 With the entire global banking on the brink, Mr. Dimon became one of a small handful of top executives, along with the men running Bank of America and Wells Fargo, who tried to fashion themselves as rescuers. —

Emily Flitter, New York Times, 2 May 2023 See You Later, Alligator...... by TampaPD on YouTube The officer then fashioned a noose from a yellow rope and lassoed it around the top of the gator's mouth. —

CBS News, 31 Mar. 2023 This new Giorgio Armani collection focuses on a long silhouette and is highlighted by jackets, skirts, trousers and duster coats fashioned to feel as weightless as possible, in colors from golden neutrals to ink blue purple and sand. —

Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2023 These art-tech playlands have been fashioned in the wake of the original Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, a DIY artists' collaboration launched in 2008 that continues to draw huge crowds. —

Robin Soslow, Chron, 20 Feb. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fashion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English fasoun, fasioun, fascioun, facioun, borrowed from Anglo-French façun, fauschoun "production, construction, appearance, form, sort, manner," going back to Latin factiōn-, factiō "act of making," from facere "to make, bring about, do" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at fact

Note: The Anglo-French form with a hushing consonant that was borrowed into Middle English reflects the Picard outcome of the Latin cluster [ktj]. A doublet of faction.

Verb

Middle English fascionen, in part verbal derivative of fascioun fashion entry 1, in part borrowed from Middle French façonner, derivative of façon fashion entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of fashion was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Articles Related to fashion

Fashionable Words

A vocab quiz with panache

Gucci

Fancy, very fashionable; great, excellent

Hypebeast

A person who is devoted to acquiring fashionable items

Cite this Entry

Style

“Fashion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fashion. Accessed 8 Jun. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

fashion

1 of 2 noun

fash·ion ˈfash-ən

: the shape or form of something

: manner sense 2, way

behave in a strange fashion

: a common style especially of dress during a particular time or among a certain group

an idea that is out of fashion

fashion

2 of 2 verb

fashioned; fashioning ˈfash-(ə-)niŋ

: to give shape or form to

fashioner

-(ə-)nər

noun

Etymology

Noun

Middle English facioun "shape, manner," from early French façon (same meaning), from Latin faction-, factio "action of making," from facere "to make, do" — related to artificial, benefit, confection, factory, manufacture, perfect, satisfy