noun
haberdashery
HAB-uh-dash-uh-ree
Haberdashery (noun) means sewing supplies such as buttons, zips, thread, ribbon, needles and trimmings, or the shop or department that sells them. Example: “The haberdashery is on the second floor, next to the fabrics.”
noun
1
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."
"She rummaged through the haberdashery drawer for a matching button."
2
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
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA shop or section selling buttons, thread and other sewing bits.
When to use it
Slightly old-fashioned, but standard in retail signage.
Memory tip
Millinery is hats, drapery is fabric by the yard, haberdashery is the small items that finish a garment.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
haberdashery department
haberdashery shop
haberdashery counter
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The _____ is on the second floor, next to the fabrics.
Etymology
From Middle English haberdasher, a dealer in small goods, probably via Anglo-Norman French; the ultimate source is uncertain.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for haberdashery
See all rhymes for 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.
What is the meaning of haberdashery?
"haberdashery" (noun) means sewing supplies such as buttons, zips, thread, ribbon, needles and trimmings, or the shop or department that sells them.
