Wardrobe

Pronunciation

Origin

From Old Northern French warderobe, a northern variant of garderobe, from garder ‘to keep safe’ + robe.

Full definition of wardrobe

Noun

1. A cabinet in which clothes may be stored.
• 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter Foreword, A canister of flour from the kitchen had been thrown at the looking-glass and lay like trampled snow over the remains of a decent blue suit with the lining ripped out which lay on top of the ruin of a plastic wardrobe.
2. The department (or people working in that department) that obtains and stores articles of clothing for use in theatrical or motion picture productions.
3. A collection of clothing.
4. The clothing one owns or needs, often for a specific purpose such as work.

Synonyms

• the piece of furniture cupboard, closet (US), press, shrank
• the clothing department costume department

Derived terms

• wardrobe malfunction
• wardrobe mistress

Verb

1. (intransitive) To provide (a film, a customer, etc.) with clothing.
• 1954, Billboard (11 December 1954, page 20)... impressed with the quality of the talent and production, good wardrobing and speedy pacing.

Anagrams

• drawbore