Word
garb
US/ˈɡɑɹb/
UK/ɡˈɑːb/
Definitions
01distinctive clothing
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal · Literary
n. a particular style of clothing, especially when it shows someone's job, rank, or role.
n. a distinctive style of dress or costume, often associated with a specific profession, social rank, or occasion.
“The monks were dressed in their traditional brown garb for the ceremony.”
“The diplomat arrived in the traditional garb of his country, standing out among the sea of dark business suits.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to a general style; countable when referring to a specific outfit.
02outward appearance
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Literary
n. the way something or someone looks on the outside, which might hide their true nature.
n. an outward appearance or guise, often used figuratively to describe how an idea or person is presented.
“The new law was presented in the garb of social reform.”
“The corporation attempted to hide its aggressive expansion under the garb of environmental sustainability.”
Usage
Usually used with the preposition 'in the garb of'.
03to dress someone
C2 · Proficiency Literary · Archaic
v. to dress someone in a particular kind of clothing.
v. to clothe or array someone in a specific style of dress.
“The actors were garbed in heavy velvet robes for the winter play.”
“The statues were garbed in silk banners to celebrate the city's founding anniversary.”
Usage
Frequently used in the passive voice ('be garbed in').
Real-World Examples
“Sitting there, in rumpled gym garb, he found the following message from one Kirsty McNeill, a person he did not know.” “Bankman-Fried appeared in courtroom at around 9.40am, taking his seat in khaki prison garb with his hair grown back out to the messy style he was known for as crypto billionaire.” Etymology
From Middle French garbe ("graceful outline, silhouette"; > Modern French galbe), from Italian garbo (“grace, elegance”), from Germanic (compare Old High German garwi, garawi (“dress, equipment, preparation”), Middle High German gerwe (“outfitting, jewelry, clothing, robe, regalia”), modern German Gärbe, Gerbe and English gear), ultimately from Frankish garwijan (“to prepare”), from Proto-Germanic garwijaną (“to prepare”).
From Middle English garbe, from Old French garbe, variant of jarbe; akin to German Garbe. Doublet of gerbe.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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