mannequin
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a life-size model of a person used to show clothes in a shop window.
a life-sized anatomical model used by retailers to display clothing or by tailors for fitting garments.
Simple“The shop window featured a mannequin dressed in a bright red winter coat.”
In context“Visual merchandisers spent hours posing the mannequins to create a dynamic scene that would attract passersby into the flagship store.”
Synonymsdummylay figure - 02 C1 Advanced
a model of a human body used for medical training, like learning how to save someone's life.
an anatomical model of the human body used for clinical training, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation or surgical simulation.
Simple“The students practiced chest compressions on a plastic mannequin during the first aid class.”
In context“Advanced medical mannequins can now simulate realistic physiological responses, allowing residents to practice complex procedures in a controlled environment.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
a small model with moving joints that artists use to study how the body moves.
a jointed, often wooden, model of the human body used by artists to study anatomy, proportion, or the fall of drapery.
Simple“The artist adjusted the wooden mannequin to get the arm position right for the painting.”
In context“Before hiring a live model, the illustrator used a jointed mannequin to block out the complex foreshortening required for the action sequence.”
Synonymsmaquettelay figure - 04 C2 Proficiency
an old word for a person whose job is to wear and show new clothes.
a person employed to model clothing; this usage is largely superseded by the term 'model' in contemporary English.
Simple“In the old film, the lead actress played a mannequin at a famous fashion house.”
In context“The mid-century fashion house employed several mannequins to walk through the salon and showcase the latest haute couture collection to wealthy clients.”
Synonyms
“Others noticed that the costume Marvel displayed at D23, on mannequins, was subtly different from the version shown at San Diego Comic-Con in July.”
Borrowed from French mannequin, derived from Old French [Term?] (“little man, figurine”), derived from Middle Dutch mannekin (“little man”) or mannekijn (see English manikin), diminutive of man (“man”). By surface analysis, man + -kin. Compare ramequin/ramekin. Doublet of manakin and manikin.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.