noun
wardrobe
WAWD-rohb
noun
1
A tall cupboard or free-standing closet used for hanging and storing clothes, usually kept in a bedroom.
"She pushed the coats to one side of the wardrobe to make room for her winter coat."
"The old wardrobe had a mirror built into one of its doors."
2
A person's entire collection of clothing, or the clothing department of a theatre, film production, or similar organisation.
"He's built up quite an expensive wardrobe over the years."
"The wardrobe department fitted every actor for the final scene."
verb
1
To buy an item of clothing, wear it once, then return it for a refund.
"Some shoppers wardrobe an outfit for a single event and send it back the next day."
How to Use Wardrobe
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA cupboard for clothes, or, more loosely, all the clothes someone owns.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with closet (US term for a built-in storage space) — a wardrobe is usually a separate piece of furniture, though the words overlap in everyday use.
Common pairings
a fitted wardrobe
update your wardrobe
the wardrobe department
Word Forms
wardrobed past tense, wardrobes plural, wardrobes singular
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She pushed the coats to one side of the _____ to make room for her winter coat.
Etymology
From Old Northern French warderobe, made of garder ("to keep, guard") plus robe ("garment") — literally a place to keep your robes safe.