Tuxedo
tuhk-SEE-doh
/tʌkˈsiːdoʊ/
A man's dinner jacket or dinner suit, traditionally worn with a bow tie for formal evening occasions.
Refers specifically to black-tie evening attire featuring satin or grosgrain facing on lapels.
The story behind the word. Named after Tuxedo Park, an exclusive country club enclave in New York. James Brown Potter introduced the jacket design there in 1886 after seeing the Prince of Wales wear a tail-less dinner jacket in England.
Word relationships
- dinner jacket: 'Dinner jacket' is the preferred British term, whereas 'tuxedo' is primarily American.
- casualwear: Casualwear refers to informal everyday garments.
Commonly confused with
- tailcoat: A tailcoat has long rear skirts used for ultra-formal white-tie events, whereas a tuxedo has a short jacket.
Word family
- tuxedos (noun): Plural form of tuxedo.
Collocations
- classic tuxedo
- midnight-blue tuxedo
- tuxedo jacket
- tuxedo rental
Example sentences
- "Guests were requested to wear a classic black tuxedo for the charity gala." Event invitation
- "He stepped onto the red carpet in a sharply fitted midnight-blue tuxedo." Celebrity profile
Memory hook
Tuxedo Park in NY is where wealthy gents ditch tailcoats for smooth dinner jackets. Tuxedo Park created the black-tie look.
When not to use
Do not call a standard business suit a tuxedo; tuxedos have distinct satin accents.
Fun facts
- The original native word 'p'tuksit' actually meant 'round foot' or was a name for wolves, completely unrelated to formal wear!
Related words
Also appears in
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