English Reference

Word

chiffon

Phoneticschif·fon

US/ʃɪˈfɑn/

UK/tʃˈɪfən/

Definition

n. a very light and soft fabric that is often used for making dresses and blouses. It feels like silk but is usually made from a synthetic material.

n. a lightweight, plain-weave fabric made from silk or synthetic fibers, characterized by a soft, slightly crinkled texture. Often used in the construction of evening gowns and blouses.

Examples

“She wore a beautiful chiffon dress to the wedding.”

“The designer chose chiffon for the skirt because it moves gracefully and catches the light.”

“While traditionally crafted from silk, modern chiffon is frequently produced from polyester or nylon to maintain its delicate appearance at a lower cost and with greater durability.”

Examples

simple

“She wore a beautiful chiffon dress to the wedding.”

contextual

“The designer chose chiffon for the skirt because it moves gracefully and catches the light.”

complex

“While traditionally crafted from silk, modern chiffon is frequently produced from polyester or nylon to maintain its delicate appearance at a lower cost and with greater durability.”

Real-World Examples

“Behind that marshmallowy exterior, all pink chiffon, candyfloss hair and soft, smudgy lines, there lurked sinews of high-tensile steel.”
The Guardian · 25 Aug 2026

Etymology

Borrowed from French chiffon, from Middle French chiffe (“cloth, old rag”), from Old French chipe (“rag”), from Middle English chip, chippe (“chip, shard, fragment”), from Old English ċipp (“chip, splinter, shaving”); see chip.

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

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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English Reference