Fashion
'fæʃən
Definitions
3 meaningsA prevailing custom or style of dress, etiquette, etc.
'fæʃən
A popular trend, especially in clothing, hairstyles, or behavior.
Paris is known for its high fashion.
💡 Simply: Fashion is like the 'in' thing – what people are wearing, doing, or liking at the moment. Like, if everyone is wearing ripped jeans, that's the current fashion!
👶 For kids: Fashion is what's cool and popular, like the clothes people like to wear right now!
More Examples
The latest fashion in footwear is chunky sneakers.
He always stays up-to-date with the latest fashion trends.
How It's Used
"The latest fashion trends are constantly changing."
"She always follows the latest social fashions."
"The new marketing strategy is the current fashion in our industry."
To give shape or form to; to create or make.
'fæʃən
To make or shape (something) into a particular form.
He fashioned a boat from driftwood.
💡 Simply: To fashion something is to make it or create it. Imagine you're making a paper airplane – you're fashioning it!
👶 For kids: When you fashion something, you make it into a shape.
More Examples
The artisan fashioned intricate designs into the metal.
The company fashioned a new marketing campaign to boost sales.
How It's Used
"The sculptor fashioned the clay into a beautiful vase."
"She fashioned a career out of her passion for writing."
A way of doing or making something.
'fæʃən
A manner of doing something; a way.
The documents were signed in a legal fashion.
💡 Simply: The word 'fashion' can also mean 'way' or 'how'. Like, 'I cooked the cake in a new fashion' means 'I cooked it in a new way'!
👶 For kids: It means how you do something, like the way you tie your shoes.
More Examples
She completed the project in a timely fashion.
In this fashion, we are able to accommodate every client.
How It's Used
"He did it in a very unusual fashion."
"In such fashion, the journey continued."
Idioms & expressions
after a fashion
In a limited or imperfect way; somewhat.
"The repair was done after a fashion, but it should hold for now."
in fashion
Currently popular or stylish.
"Wearing ripped jeans is definitely in fashion right now."
out of fashion
No longer popular or stylish; old-fashioned.
"That style of dress is completely out of fashion these days."
From Old French *façon* (way, manner, shape), derived from Latin *factio* (a making or doing, a party), from *facere* (to make, do). The modern sense of 'style' developed from the late 16th century.
Used since the late 16th century. It was used frequently in the context of social customs and manners.
Memory tip
Think of what's 'in' right now. Fashion is about what's currently popular.
Word Origin
"to make, to do"