gown

[goun]

noun

1. a woman's dress or robe, especially one that is full-length.

   Synonyms: frock

2. nightgown.

3. dressing gown.

4. evening gown.

5. a loose, flowing outer garment in any of various forms, worn by a man or woman as distinctive of office, profession, or status.

   an academic gown.

6. the student and teaching body in a university or college town.

verb (used with object)

1. to dress in a gown.

gown

/ ɡaʊn /

noun

1. any of various outer garments, such as a woman's elegant or formal dress, a dressing robe, or a protective garment, esp one worn by surgeons during operations

2. a loose wide garment indicating status, such as worn by academics

3. the members of a university as opposed to the other residents of the university town Compare town

verb

1. (tr) to supply with or dress in a gown

Other Word Forms

• ungowned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gown¹

1300–50; Middle English goune < Old French < Late Latin gunna fur or leather garment

Word History and Origins

Origin of gown¹

C14: from Old French goune, from Late Latin gunna garment made of leather or fur, of Celtic origin

Idioms and Phrases

see cap and gown; town and gown.

Synonym Study

See dress.

Example Sentences

Moretz posted photos of herself on Instagram rocking a baby blue gown along with images of Harrison wearing a white dress with a sweetheart neckline and a birdcage veil.

From Los Angeles Times

Similar care is taken when it comes to commissioning a wedding gown, industry experts told the BBC.

From BBC

“When all of the debutantes are wearing custom gowns, it makes sense that all of them would have an incredible amount of time and thought put into them,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

But when Brianna made a TikTok video of herself in her African prom gown, she did not expect the reaction she got - it went viral and her post now has more than 1.1 million views.

From BBC

Viewing all the bridal gowns inspires Seema to wonder aloud whether her wedding dreams are residual programming from her girlhood, or if she’s right to want to wear one of those dresses someday.

From Salon

Related Words

• costume 
• frock 
• garb 
• garment