# corset

/ˈkɔɹsət/ (US) · /kˈɔːsɛt/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/corset
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

a tight piece of clothing worn under a dress to make the waist look smaller. It was very common in the past and is usually stiffened with metal or plastic strips.

For teachers: a close-fitting undergarment, stiffened with stays and tightened by lacing, designed to support or constrict the torso into a desired shape. Historically worn by women to achieve a narrow waistline, though modern versions appear in fashion and medical contexts.

## Examples

- The actress wore a tight corset under her Victorian dress.
- Historical dramas often require costume designers to recreate the restrictive corsets that defined nineteenth-century silhouettes.
- While the corset is frequently critiqued as a symbol of historical female oppression, some fashion historians argue it also provided necessary structural support for heavy, multi-layered skirts.

## Usage notes

- Often used with the verb 'to lace' or 'to tighten'.

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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.