What does attirement mean?
Attirement means clothing or dress, especially the garments regarded as suitable for a particular role, occasion, or period. Its wording sounds formal and literary: where a speaker might simply say “attire” or “clothing,” “attirement” often adds a sense of selection, presentation, or distinction. It appears naturally in descriptions of ceremonial, professional, or traditional dress, but it is not the ordinary word for clothes in casual conversation. The noun can also be used more narrowly for the act of dressing or adorning oneself, though that sense is now rare or archaic. Although the plural “attirements” is grammatically possible, most contemporary writing treats “attirement” as an uncountable noun. The word is useful when the clothing itself carries social meaning: a uniform, costume, or formal ensemble can communicate the wearer's role, identity, or the importance of an occasion.
nounClothing or dress, especially formal, ceremonial, or distinctive attire. In a rare older sense, it means the act of dressing or adorning oneself.
- Clothing or dress, especially clothing regarded as appropriate for a particular role, occasion, or period.
- The act of dressing or adorning oneself; now rare or archaic.
"Her silver attirement complemented the grandeur of the evening."
"The guards' immaculate attirement lent the ceremony a sense of occasion."
"The novel describes the morning attirement of the garden in vivid detail."
This plural is grammatically correct but uncommon; “attirement” is normally used as an uncountable noun.
"The catalogue records ceremonial attirements from several regions and periods."
Sometimes the choice of clothes carries more social weight than the clothes themselves—and “attirement” is the elegant word for that.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How attirement is actually used
Attirement is formal and literary in tone and is much less common in everyday speech than “attire” or “clothing.” It is understood in both British and American English, although many speakers encounter it chiefly in older writing. The plural “attirements” is grammatical but uncommon; contemporary usage generally treats the word as an uncountable noun.
Easily confused with attirement
Attirement means clothing or dress, whereas attainment means the achievement of a goal or the possession of a desired quality.