fancy dress


noun

a costume for a ball, masquerade, etc., chosen to please the fancy, usually a costume characteristic of a particular period or place, class of persons, or historical or fictitious character.

Origin of fancy dress

First recorded in 1760–70

Example sentences from the Web for fancy dress

British Dictionary definitions for fancy dress

fancy dress

noun

  1. costume worn at masquerades, etc, usually representing a particular role, historical figure, etc
  2. (as modifier)a fancy-dress ball