# apparel

/əˈpæɹəɫ/ (US) · /ˈæpəɹəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/apparel
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. clothing

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

clothing, especially when it is sold in a shop or worn for a specific purpose.

For teachers: clothing or attire in a general sense. Often used in commercial or industrial contexts to categorize garments.

- The shop sells a wide range of athletic apparel for runners and cyclists.
- The retail giant reported a significant decline in sales within its luxury apparel division during the final quarter of the fiscal year.

### 2. ship equipment

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the equipment of a ship, such as the sails, anchors, and ropes.

For teachers: the functional equipment or 'furniture' of a ship, including masts, rigging, and ground tackle.

- The crew spent the morning inspecting the ship's apparel before setting sail.
- The historical society funded the restoration of the vessel's original apparel, ensuring the masts and rigging were period-accurate.

### 3. to dress someone

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to dress someone in beautiful or formal clothes.

For teachers: to clothe or attire a person, particularly in an ornamental or formal manner. Transitive and often used in the passive voice.

- The king was appareled in fine silk for the wedding ceremony.
- The statues were richly appareled in embroidered fabrics for the duration of the religious festival.

## Examples

- The store sells high-quality athletic apparel.
- The company specializes in protective apparel for workers in the construction and mining industries.
- While the boutique focuses on high-end evening apparel, it also carries a small selection of accessories designed to complement its more formal pieces.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.