mannequin
MAN-uh-kin
/ˈmænɪkɪn/
A life-sized model of the human body, used for displaying clothes in a shop window.
Specifically refers to the plastic or plaster figures used in retail, not a living model.
The story behind the word. From the Dutch 'manneken', meaning 'little man'. It was originally used by artists as a small wooden figure to help with proportions.
Word relationships
- dummy: Dummy is more informal and can also refer to crash-test figures.
Commonly confused with
- model: A model is a living person; a mannequin is a plastic figure.
Collocations
- store mannequin
- display mannequin
- clothed mannequin
Example sentences
- "The mannequin in the storefront was dressed in a shimmering evening gown that caught the light." Describing a store display.
Memory hook
A 'Mannequin' is a 'Man-in-the-window' who is 'Kin' to a doll. The silent fashionista.
When not to use
Do not use for a person modeling clothes (though 'mannequin' was used this way in the past).
Fun facts
- Early mannequins were made of wax and would sometimes melt in the heat of the sun through the shop windows.
Related words
Explore more words
fitting room, specimen, statue, silhouette, drape, off-the-rack
Also appears in
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