fashion

1 of 2

noun

fash·​ion ˈfa-shən How to pronounce fashion (audio)
Synonyms of fashionnext
1
a(1)
: the prevailing style (as in dress) during a particular time
The spring fashions are now on display.
(2)
: a garment in such a style
always wears the latest fashions
b
: a prevailing custom, usage, or style
Literary fashions have changed in recent years.
c
: social standing or prominence especially as signalized by dress or conduct
men and women of fashion
2
a
: mode of action or operation
assembled in an orderly fashion
not even changing fashions in warfare have diminished the island's strategic importance—Franc Shor
b
: a distinctive or peculiar and often habitual manner or way
he will, after his sour fashion, tell you—William Shakespeare
3
a
: the make or form of something
A lamp in the fashion of a silver dove was hung from an almost invisible golden wire in the centre of the room.—Arthur Conan Doyle
b
archaic : kind, sort

fashion

2 of 2

verb

fashioned; fashioning ˈfa-shᵊn-iŋ How to pronounce fashion (audio)
ˈfash-niŋ
 ; fashions

transitive verb

1
: to give shape or form to : to make, construct, or create (something) usually with careful attention or by the use of imagination and ingenuity
fashion a lamp from an old churn
a figure fashioned from clay
… delegating to the commander-in-chief the power to fashion the rules of the military justice system …—Fred Strasser
Up there in the mountains old ladies … are still hooking rugs … and fashioning dainty dolls out of corn shucks.—Richard Atcheson
2
: to design or devise for a particular use or purpose
… were the vessels fashioned for royalty distinguished from objects intended for nonroyal consumers?—Asian Art
3
obsolete : contrive
fashioner
ˈfa-shə-nər How to pronounce fashion (audio)
ˈfash-nər
noun
Phrases
after a fashion
: in an approximate or rough way
became an artist after a fashion

Synonyms

Noun

Verb

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for fashion

fashion, style, mode, vogue, fad, rage, craze mean the usage accepted by those who want to be up-to-date.

fashion is the most general term and applies to any way of dressing, behaving, writing, or performing that is favored at any one time or place.

the current fashion

style often implies a distinctive fashion adopted by people of taste.

a media baron used to traveling in style

mode suggests the fashion of the moment among those anxious to appear elegant and sophisticated.

slim bodies are the mode at this resort

vogue stresses the wide acceptance of a fashion.

short skirts are back in vogue

fad suggests caprice in taking up or in dropping a fashion.

last year's fad is over

rage and craze stress intense enthusiasm in adopting a fad.

Cajun food was the rage nearly everywhere for a time
crossword puzzles once seemed just a passing craze but have lasted

synonyms see in addition method

Examples of fashion in a Sentence

Noun Jewelry and clothing fashions vary with the season. Short skirts have come back into fashion. Those ruffled blouses went out of fashion years ago. She always wears the latest fashions. Literary fashions have changed in recent years. We started the meeting in an orderly fashion. We all lined up in orderly fashion. Verb Students fashioned the clay into small figures. She used the scraps of fabric to fashion a little doll's dress. a table fashioned out of an old door
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Stanford snapped a six-game losing streak and won its first home game over an FBS team in the Taylor era in improbable fashion. —Harold Gutmann, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024 But follow-through is crucial and coordination (especially with the NYPD) a must; in classic New York City government fashion, both are obviously missing. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 13 Nov. 2024
Verb
Solis went on to fashion an amazing solo career that has resulted in numerous awards and tens of millions of albums sold. —Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024 Catlett’s images of Black women, imbued with reverence and command, fulfilled her desire to reconfigure their identity throughout Modernist culture and to fashion an aesthetic that prioritizes their interior world, social condition, and African lineage. —Shameekia Shantel Johnson, ARTnews.com, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fashion 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English fasoun, fasioun, fascioun, facioun, borrowed from Anglo-French façun, fauschoun "production, construction, appearance, form, sort, manner," going back to Latin factiōn-, factiō "act of making," from facere "to make, bring about, do" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at fact

Note: The Anglo-French form with a hushing consonant that was borrowed into Middle English reflects the Picard outcome of the Latin cluster [ktj]. A doublet of faction.

Verb

Middle English fascionen, in part verbal derivative of fascioun fashion entry 1, in part borrowed from Middle French façonner, derivative of façon fashion entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of fashion was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing fashion

Dictionary Entries Near fashion

fasherie

fashion

fashionable

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Fashion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fashion. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

fashion

1 of 2 noun
fash·​ion ˈfash-ən How to pronounce fashion (audio)
1
: the shape or form of something
2
: manner sense 2, way
behave in a strange fashion
3
: a common style especially of dress during a particular time or among a certain group
an idea that is out of fashion

fashion

2 of 2 verb
fashioned; fashioning ˈfash-(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce fashion (audio)
: to give shape or form to
fashioner
-(ə-)nər How to pronounce fashion (audio)
noun
Etymology

Noun

Middle English facioun "shape, manner," from early French façon (same meaning), from Latin faction-, factio "action of making," from facere "to make, do" — related to artificial, benefit, confection, factory, manufacture, perfect, satisfy

More from Merriam-Webster on fashion

Nglish: Translation of fashion for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of fashion for Arabic Speakers

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