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cosplay
What does cosplay mean?
The hobby of creating and wearing costumes to portray a specific character, often paired with adopting their poses and mannerisms at conventions.
"Her Nezuko cosplay won best in show at the con."
Origin
Wasei-eigo コスプレ (kosupure), a blend of 'costume' and 'play', coined by Nobuyuki Takahashi in 1984.
Frequently asked questions
What is cosplay?
Cosplay is the hobby of making and wearing costumes to portray a specific character from anime, manga, games or other media, often at conventions.
Where does the word cosplay come from?
It's a blend of 'costume' and 'play', coined in Japanese as kosupure by Nobuyuki Takahashi in 1984.
Can cosplay be used as a verb?
Yes — people commonly say they 'cosplay' a character, meaning they dress up and act as them.
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