wardrobe
WAWD-rohb
Wardrobe (noun) means a tall cupboard or free-standing closet used for hanging and storing clothes, usually kept in a bedroom. Example: “She pushed the coats to one side of the wardrobe to make room for her winter coat.”
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."
"We could not fit the new wardrobe up the narrow stairs, so we took the doors off."
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."
"After moving to a colder country, she had to replace most of her summer wardrobe."
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."
"The shop banned customers who kept wardrobing dresses for weddings and then demanding their money back."
"I would never wardrobe a jacket like that, because it feels dishonest to the retailer."
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.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a fitted wardrobe
update your wardrobe
the wardrobe department
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like wardrobe.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- wardrobes
- Third person singular
- wardrobes
- Past tense
- wardrobed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for wardrobe
See all rhymes for wardrobe →Frequently asked questions
What does “wardrobe” mean?
The word “wardrobe” means a tall cupboard or free-standing closet used for hanging and storing clothes, usually kept in a bedroom. In plain terms, a cupboard for clothes, or, more loosely, all the clothes someone owns.
How do you pronounce “wardrobe”?
“Wardrobe” is pronounced WAWD-rohb (/ˈwɔɹdɹoʊb/ in IPA).
How do you use “wardrobe” in a sentence?
Here is “wardrobe” used in a sentence: “She pushed the coats to one side of the wardrobe to make room for her winter coat.”
What is another word for “wardrobe”?
Words with a similar meaning to “wardrobe” include costume department and bathroom.
What part of speech is “wardrobe”?
Depending on how it is used, “wardrobe” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “wardrobe” come from?
The word “wardrobe” comes from French. From Old Northern French warderobe, made of garder ("to keep, guard") plus robe ("garment") — literally a place to keep your robes safe.
Is “wardrobe” a common word?
“Wardrobe” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “wardrobe” have?
“Wardrobe” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tall cupboard or free-standing closet used for hanging and storing clothes, usually kept in a bedroom.
What is the difference between a wardrobe and a closet?
A wardrobe is typically a tall, free-standing cupboard used for hanging and storing clothes, while a closet is usually a built-in storage space set into the wall of a room. Wardrobes are common in homes without built-in closets, particularly in older or European-style houses.
What does it mean to wardrobe an item of clothing?
As a verb, to wardrobe means to buy an item of clothing, wear it once, then return it for a refund. This practice is generally frowned upon by retailers because it treats purchased clothing as if it were a free rental.
What is the difference between a wardrobe and someone's clothing collection?
Wardrobe can refer to the physical piece of furniture used for storing clothes, or more broadly to a person's entire collection of clothing, as in "she has an impressive wardrobe." In film, television, and theatre, wardrobe also refers to the department responsible for costumes.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include wardrobe:
