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Definition of apparel

apparel

/əˈpær.əl/
ap · par · el

Plural:apparels
•
Past Simple:appareled
•
Past Participle:appareled
•
Present Participle:appareling
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apparel Lexical Profile

apparel Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Clothing in general, especially formal garments or those sold commercially.

Example

"The new retail store specializes in women's athletic apparel and footwear."


2

Something that covers, clothes, or adorns.

Example

"The trees were striking in their bright autumn apparel."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for apparel

• verb

1

To clothe or dress (someone), especially in formal, fine, or elaborate garments.

Example

"The royal family was elegantly appareled for the coronation ceremony."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for apparel
Antonyms
View all antonyms for apparel

Word Nuance & Usage

While synonymous with 'clothing', 'apparel' is often used in commercial or formal contexts (e.g., 'the apparel industry', 'athletic apparel') and rarely in everyday conversation to describe what someone is currently wearing.

• Rhymes for apparel

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old French 'apareil' (preparation, equipment), derived from the verb 'apareillier' (to prepare, make ready), originating from Vulgar Latin 'appariculare' and ultimately Latin 'apparare' (to prepare).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Apparel. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/apparel
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