Attire
uh-TIGH-er
/əˈtaɪər/
Clothes, especially fine or formal ones.
Attire often implies a specific type of clothing required for an occasion, such as 'formal attire' or 'business attire'.
The story behind the word. The word 'attire' comes from the Old French verb 'atirier,' meaning 'to arrange,' 'to equip,' or 'to dress.' It entered English around the 13th century. Initially, it referred to the act of dressing or equipping oneself. Over time, it evolved to become a noun, referring to the clothing itself, especially formal or elaborate garments, emphasizing the idea of being properly 'arranged' or 'equipped' for an occasion.
Word relationships
- Clothing: More general and less formal.
- Garments: Often used in a more formal or collective sense, or for specific types of clothing.
- Apparel: Similar to 'attire' in formality, often used in retail or fashion contexts.
Commonly confused with
- Clothes: 'Clothes' is a general, everyday term. 'Attire' is more formal and often implies a specific dress code or type of clothing for an occasion.
Word family
- attired (adjective): dressed in a particular way
Collocations
- formal attire
- business attire
- casual attire
- evening attire
- appropriate attire
Example sentences
- "The invitation stated 'formal attire required,' so guests arrived in elegant gowns and tuxedos." Specifying a dress code.
- "Her professional attire for the interview included a sharp blazer and tailored trousers." Describing clothing in a formal context.
- "The knights, in their shining battle attire, rode forth to meet the enemy." In a historical or literary context.
Memory hook
Your ATTIRE is what you 'A-TIE-R' (tie around) yourself to look good. Tie around
When not to use
While technically correct, 'attire' sounds overly formal for everyday casual clothing. Use 'clothes' or 'outfit' instead.
Fun facts
- The phrase 'dressed in full battle attire' is a classic example of how 'attire' can refer to specialized clothing beyond just formal wear.
Also appears in
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