haberdashery
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for haberdashery, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Sewing supplies such as buttons, zips, thread, ribbon, needles and trimmings, or the shop or department that sells them.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun British
Sewing supplies such as buttons, zips, thread, ribbon, needles and trimmings, or the shop or department that sells them.
“The haberdashery is on the second floor, next to the fabrics.”
2. noun North American
A shop selling men's clothing and accessories such as shirts, ties, hats and gloves.
“He bought the suit at an old family haberdashery downtown.”
How to use haberdashery
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Slightly old-fashioned, but standard in retail signage.
Etymology
From Middle English haberdasher, a dealer in small goods, probably via Anglo-Norman French; the ultimate source is uncertain.
Full origin of haberdashery →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between haberdashery in British and American English?
In Britain a haberdashery sells sewing notions: buttons, thread, ribbon and zips. In the United States it sells men's clothing and accessories. The same word, two entirely different shops.
What is a haberdasher?
The person who keeps or works in a haberdashery. In Britain that means a seller of sewing goods; in America, a men's outfitter. The word is now old-fashioned in both countries.
Is haberdashery still used today?
Yes, though it sounds traditional. British department stores and craft shops still label the department haberdashery, and the word survives in American English mostly in the names of long-established tailors.