mannequin

noun

man·​ne·​quin ˈma-ni-kən 

1

: an artist's, tailor's, or dressmaker's lay figure

also : a form representing the human figure used especially for displaying clothes

2

: one employed to model clothing

Synonyms

• doll
• dummy
• manikin

Examples of mannequin in a Sentence

the mannequin over there looks so real

mannequins striding down the catwalk in the designer's spring collection

Recent Examples on the Web

Even the mannequins showing off clothes to buy were absent. —Norma Galeana, CNN Money, 4 July 2025

The goal of the show was to blow up 500 pounds of ammonium nitrate to knock the socks off a mannequin positioned near the explosion. —Sacbee.com, 4 July 2025

Ford uses high-tech mannequins inside the vehicle that can measure sound coming from all directions, and accelerometers are positioned on the floor pan and the seats. —Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 25 June 2025

My face is contoured, gorgeously lit, smooth as a mannequin’s. —Susan Choi, Literary Hub, 5 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from Dutch mannekijn little man — more at manikin

First Known Use

1730, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mannequin

• manikin

Kids Definition

mannequin

noun

man·​ne·​quin ˈman-i-kən 

1

: an artist's, tailor's, or dressmaker's jointed figure of the human body

2

: a form representing the human figure used especially for displaying clothes

3

: a person employed to model clothing