English Reference
adjective · verb

bespoke

adj. · v.
US /bʊˈspoʊk/ UK /bɪspˈəʊk/ be·spoke

  1. 01 C1 Advanced British EnglishFormal

    adj.made specially for a particular person or customer.

    adj.made to a buyer's specific requirements; typically used for high-end tailoring or software solutions.

    Simple

    He went to a famous tailor in London to get a bespoke suit for his wedding.

    In context

    The firm provides bespoke investment strategies for high-net-worth clients who require more than a standard portfolio.

    Usage

    Usually placed before the noun it describes.

    mass producedready madeoff the shelf
  2. 02 C2 Proficiency LiteraryArchaic

    v.the past tense of 'bespeak', which means to suggest or show something.

    v.the simple past tense of 'bespeak', used to indicate that something suggested or gave evidence of a particular quality.

    Simple

    His quiet confidence bespoke a man who had seen much of the world.

    In context

    The elegant proportions of the manor house bespoke the refined taste of the architect who designed it two centuries ago.

A bespoke Ferrari Daytona SP3 supercar raised $26m for the carmaker's education initiatives at an auction in 2025.

BBC News· 17 Aug 2026

Since then, animal transfers need bespoke agreements, often requiring paperwork to be completed between the UK and several European countries.

BBC News· 13 Aug 2026

In sense “custom-made”, 1755, from earlier bespoken (c. 1600), form of bespeak, in sense “arrange beforehand” (1580s), a prefixed variant of speak; compare order, made-to-order.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated