attire

Language: en

🇺🇸 /əˈtaɪɜr/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    Clothing or garments, especially of a particular type or for a particular occasion; dress.; The antlers of a deer, especially when fully grown.
  2. verb
    To dress or clothe someone, especially in fine or special garments.

🔗 Details

Word forms

uncountable 3rd sing.: attires Past: attired Past part.: attired Pres part.: attiring

Collocations

formal attirebusiness attirecasual attireevening attireproperly attiredattired in

Derivatives

attiredattirement

Synonyms

clothingappareldressgarmentsoutfitwardrobe

Commonly confused

outfit
EN: 'Outfit' is countable and refers to a specific set of clothes worn together; 'attire' is uncountable and refers to clothing in a more general or formal sense.
costume
EN: 'Costume' implies clothing for a performance, disguise, or cultural tradition; 'attire' refers to everyday or formal clothing without such connotations.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember 'attire' has double 't' and ends with '-ire', not '-er'. The verb form 'attired' is often used as an adjective (e.g., 'elegantly attired').

💬 Examples

  1. Guests were expected to arrive in formal attire for the gala dinner.

  2. The stag's magnificent attire spread wide above its head.

  3. She was attired in a flowing white gown for the ceremony.