black-tie

1 of 2

adjective

variants or less commonly black tie
: characterized by or requiring the wearing of semiformal evening clothes consisting of a usually black tie and tuxedo for men and a formal dress for women
a black-tie dinner
compare white-tie

black tie

2 of 2

noun

: semiformal clothing
gentlemen in black tie for the banquet

Examples of black-tie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Based on the bride-to-be’s discretion and taste, not to mention how well the bridal party or family members interpret that, the event’s vibe can range from a casual bridal shower at a local brewery to a semi-formal event like a high tea to a fully black-tie affair that rivals the reception itself. Jasmine Fox-Suliaman, Glamour, 10 July 2025 The black-tie opening affair saw Krieps (Phantom Thread, Bergman Island) and Sarsgaard, who most recently starred in director Tim Fehlbaum’s September 5, each collect a KVIFF President’s Award. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 4 July 2025
Noun
Kushner accompanied his wife in a navy blue suit with a black tie and a classic white button down shirt. Wwd Staff, Footwear News, 27 June 2025 Ultimately, Williams kept the rest of the look quite simple, wearing Tiffany & Co. jewelry plus a black tie and white button-down underneath. Ruth Etiesit Samuel, Essence, 6 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for black-tie

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1933, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of black-tie was in 1933

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Black-tie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black-tie. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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