white-tie

[ hwahyt-tahy, wahyt- ]
/ ˈʰwaɪtˈtaɪ, ˈwaɪt- /

adjective

requiring that guests wear formal attire, especially that men wear white bow ties with formal evening dress: a white-tie embassy reception.
Compare black-tie.

Origin of white-tie

First recorded in 1950–55

Words nearby white-tie

white-slaving, white-tailed deer, white-tailed kite, white-tailed sea eagle, white-throated sparrow, white-tie, white-winged dove, white-winged scoter, whiteacre, whitebait, whitebeam

Definition for white-tie (2 of 2)

white tie

noun

formal evening dress for men (distinguished from black tie).
a white bow tie for men, worn with formal evening dress.

British Dictionary definitions for white-tie

white tie

noun

a white bow tie worn as part of a man's formal evening dress
  1. formal evening dress for men
  2. (as modifier)a white-tie occasion