What does cummerbund mean?
A cummerbund is a broad sash worn around the waist, most commonly as an element of formal evening dress. Typically pleated and made of silk or a similar lustrous fabric, it is worn with a dinner jacket in place of a waistcoat, usually in black or another dark color that matches the rest of the ensemble. The word entered English from Hindustani during the period of British involvement in India, deriving from kamar-band, literally 'waist-binding,' and originally referred to any waist sash before narrowing to its modern formal-dress meaning. Etiquette tradition holds that the pleats should face upward — a detail often cited as a test of proper dress. Though strongly associated with menswear, cummerbunds also appear in women's fashion and even as decorative bands on chairs or invitations, though such extended uses are secondary. For anyone navigating black-tie events, knowing what a cummerbund is — and which way it goes — is genuinely useful.
nounA broad sash worn around the waist, typically as part of formal evening dress with a dinner jacket, usually pleated and worn with the pleats facing upward.
- A broad pleated sash worn at the waist with formal evening dress (black tie), typically in black or a dark color.
"He adjusted his black cummerbund before stepping into the ballroom."
"The dress code specified a dinner jacket, bow tie, and cummerbund for all guests."
"She paired her silk cummerbund with a matching pocket square in deep burgundy."
Regular plural formation.
"The rental shop stocked dozens of cummerbunds in every color."
The cummerbund's pleats are supposed to face up — originally to hold ticket stubs at the opera.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cummerbund
Cummerbund entered English in the early 17th century from Hindustani kamar-band, meaning 'waist-binding' (kamar 'waist, loins' plus band 'binding'). It was adopted by the British in India, where such waist sashes were part of both local and colonial military dress. Over time the term narrowed from any waist sash specifically to the pleated silk accessory now worn with formal evening wear. Other English words of South Asian origin adopted in the same era include khaki, pyjamas, shampoo, and cumshaw.
How cummerbund is actually used
The word is associated almost exclusively with formal menswear (black-tie attire). A widely noted etiquette point is that the pleats should face upward; wearing it upside down is considered a common faux pas. In American usage it is sometimes loosely applied to any wide waist sash, but the formal-dress sense is dominant in both British and American English.
Easily confused with cummerbund
Cumberbund is a common misspelling of cummerbund; the correct spelling reflects its Hindustani origin kamar-band, meaning waist-binding.