costume
KOS-tyoom
Costume (noun) means an outfit worn to represent a particular character, period, or culture. Example: “The children made a dinosaur costume out of cardboard and green paint.”
noun
1
An outfit worn to represent a particular character, period, or culture.
"The children made a dinosaur costume out of cardboard and green paint."
"She wore a witch costume for Halloween."
"The actors' costumes were designed to look authentic to the 1920s."
verb
1
To dress someone in a costume.
"She was asked to costume the school play on a very small budget."
"The designer costumed the dancers in flowing silver robes."
"The wardrobe department costumed the entire cast for opening night."
How to use costume
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA special outfit worn for a role, performance, or disguise.
Common pairings
fancy dress costume
Halloween costume
stage costume
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Word forms
- Plural
- costumes
- Third person singular
- costumes
- Past tense
- costumed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The children made a dinosaur _____ out of cardboard and green paint.
Etymology
From French costume, from Italian costume, ultimately from Latin consuetudo, "custom" or "habit." It is a doublet of the words "custom" and "consuetude."
Related words
Rhymes for costume
See all rhymes for costume →Frequently asked questions
What does “costume” mean?
The word “costume” means an outfit worn to represent a particular character, period, or culture. In plain terms, a special outfit worn for a role, performance, or disguise.
How do you pronounce “costume”?
“Costume” is pronounced KOS-tyoom (/ˈkɑsˌt(j)um/ in IPA).
How do you use “costume” in a sentence?
Here is “costume” used in a sentence: “She wore a witch costume for Halloween.”
What is another word for “costume”?
Words with a similar meaning to “costume” include getup and outfit.
What part of speech is “costume”?
Depending on how it is used, “costume” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “costume” come from?
The word “costume” comes from Latin. From French costume, from Italian costume, ultimately from Latin consuetudo, "custom" or "habit." It is a doublet of the words "custom" and "consuetude.".
Is “costume” a common word?
“Costume” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “costume” have?
“Costume” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an outfit worn to represent a particular character, period, or culture.
What is the difference between a costume and an outfit?
A costume is an outfit worn to represent a particular character, period, or culture, such as for a play or a fancy-dress party. An outfit is any coordinated set of everyday clothes worn together, without the sense of portraying someone or something.
What is the difference between a costume and a disguise?
A costume is worn to represent or portray a character, period, or culture, often for performance or celebration. A disguise is worn to conceal your real identity so you are not recognised, so its purpose is concealment rather than representation.
What is the difference between costume and custom?
Costume is a noun meaning an outfit worn to represent a character, period, or culture, and can also be a verb meaning to dress someone in one. Custom is an unrelated word meaning a traditional or usual practice; the two are easily confused because of their similar spelling.
