Costume: Clothing That Says Where and When You Are
A costume is a set of clothes worn for a performance, a period, or a place. The word shares an ancestor with custom, because dress is a kind of habit.
A costume is clothing that belongs to a role, a period or a culture rather than to the wearer's own daily life. It shares its origin with *custom*: both come from Latin *consuetudo*, habit. What a people habitually wore was their costume.
- Clothing for a performance. *The costume department.*
- Traditional dress. *Regional costume.*
- A themed outfit. *A pirate costume for the party.*
- A swimming costume (British). *Pack your costume.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | costume | A period costume. |
| Person | costumier | The theatre's costumier. |
| Compound | costume drama | A lavish costume drama. |
| Compound | costume jewellery | A tray of costume jewellery. |
| Related | custom | A local custom. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The costumes were made from period patterns.Theatre and film usage.
- She wore traditional costume for the ceremony.Uncountable in this sense.
- Costume jewellery is made from inexpensive materials.Meant to complete an outfit, not to hold value.
Costume, outfit, uniform and dress
- Costume — belongs to a role, period or culture
- Outfit — a coordinated set of clothes for any occasion
- Uniform — identical clothing marking membership
- Dress — a garment, and also the general manner of dressing
- Get-up — informal and usually slightly mocking
Through French and Italian *costume*, from Latin *consuetudo*, custom or habit. English borrowed the word twice from the same source: once as custom, meaning practice, and once as costume, meaning the practice of dressing.
Costume or swimsuit?
Swimming costume is British and slightly old-fashioned; swimsuit and cossie are also used. Americans say swimsuit or bathing suit.
What is a costume drama?
A film or television production set in a past period, where the clothing is a major part of the appeal.