negligee

noun

neg·​li·​gee ˌne-glə-ˈzhā How to pronounce negligee (audio)
ˈne-glə-ˌzhā
variants or less commonly negligé
1
: a woman's long flowing usually sheer dressing gown
2
: carelessly informal or incomplete attire

Examples of negligee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web According to the museum, many of the works have never been exhibited or seen outside the archives, including the corset of an 19th-century Parisian fashion plate, a 1938 Elsa Schiaparelli evening look, actress Mae West’s 1940s negligees and a 1952 cocktail dress by Christian Dior. Ryma Chikhoune, WWD, 14 Aug. 2024 Nigerian actress Temi Otedola oozed the mystery of a film noir femme fatale in a floor-length black coat, tightly cinched with the lacy hint of a negligee peeking out beneath. Ian Malone, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2024 Elisa Benzoni’s elegant period costumes include modest bustiers, negligees and silk robes. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Jan. 2024 Wafting about in a flowy, sky-blue negligee, Rachel Bay Jones’ lady of leisure is daft but sweet and accidentally profound. Naveen Kumar, Variety, 22 Oct. 2023 See all Example Sentences for negligee 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'negligee.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French négligé "casualness, casual or informal dress," from past participle of négliger "to disregard, neglect, treat carelessly," going back to Middle French negliger, borrowed from Latin neglegere, neclegere, necligere "to disregard, do nothing about, fail to care for" — more at neglect entry 1

First Known Use

1756, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of negligee was in 1756

Dictionary Entries Near negligee

Cite this Entry

“Negligee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/negligee. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

negligee

noun
neg·​li·​gee
variants also negligé
1
: a woman's long flowing dressing gown
2
: carelessly informal clothes
Etymology

derived from French négligé, past participle of négliger "to neglect"

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