Dress vs. Gown — What's the Difference?

A one-piece garment for women or girls that covers the body and extends over the legs.

Typically features luxurious fabrics and intricate details.

Can be designed for various occasions, from casual to formal.

A formal or elegant dress, often floor-length, worn on special occasions.

Often emphasizes comfort and practicality.

May include specific styles like ball gowns or evening gowns.

Styles can range widely, from shift to wrap dresses.

Less focused on practicality, more on aesthetic appeal.

Accessories can vary based on the dress's formality.

Often accessorized with fine jewelry and elegant footwear.

A dress (also known as a frock or a gown) is a garment traditionally worn by women or girls consisting of a skirt with an attached bodice (or a matching bodice giving the effect of a one-piece garment). It consists of a top piece that covers the torso and hangs down over the legs.

A gown, from the Saxon word, gunna, is a usually loose outer garment from knee- to full-length worn by men and women in Europe from the Early Middle Ages to the 17th century, and continuing today in certain professions; later, gown was applied to any full-length woman's garment consisting of a bodice and attached skirt. A long, loosely fitted gown called a Banyan was worn by men in the 18th century as an informal coat.

Put on one's clothes

A long elegant dress worn on formal occasions

Decorate (something) in an artistic or attractive way

Be dressed in a gown

Treat or prepare (something) in a certain way.

A long loose flowing garment, such as a robe or nightgown.

Draw up (troops) in the proper alignment.

A long, usually formal dress.

(of a man) have the genitals habitually on one or the other side of the fork of the trousers

A robe or smock worn in operating rooms and other parts of hospitals as a guard against contamination.

Make (an artificial fly) for use in fishing

A distinctive outer robe worn on ceremonial occasions, as by scholars or clerics.

A one-piece garment for a woman or girl that covers the body and extends down over the legs

The faculty and student body of a university

Clothing of a specified kind for men or women

To clothe (oneself or another) with a gown.

To put clothes on; clothe.

A loose, flowing upper garment.

To furnish with clothing.

A woman's ordinary outer dress, such as a calico or silk gown.

To decorate or adorn

The official robe of certain professionals, clerics, and scholars, such as university students and officers, barristers, judges, etc.

To garnish

The dress of civil officers, as opposed to military officers.

To arrange a display in

(by metonymy) The university community, especially as contrasted with the local populace.

To arrange (troops) in ranks; align.

A loose wrapper worn by gentlemen within doors; a dressing gown.

To apply medication, bandages, or other therapeutic materials to (a wound).

Any sort of dress or garb.

To arrange and groom (the hair), as by styling, combing, or washing.

The robe worn by a surgeon.

To groom (an animal); curry.

To dress in a gown, to don or garb with a gown.

To fertilize (land or plants).

A loose, flowing upper garment

(Archaic) To cultivate (land or plants).

A loose wrapper worn by gentlemen within doors; a dressing gown.

To clean (fish or fowl) for cooking or sale.

Any sort of dress or garb.

To put a finish on (stone or wood, for example).

Long, usually formal, woman's dress

To tan or prepare (a hide) in leather-making.

Protective garment worn by surgeons during operations

To put on clothes.

Outerwear consisting of a long flowing garment used for official or ceremonial occasions

To wear clothes of a certain kind or style

Dress in a gown

To wear formal clothes

To get into proper alignment with others

Clothing; apparel.

A style of clothing

A one-piece outer garment consisting of a skirt and bodice.

Outer covering or appearance; guise

Suitable for formal occasions

Requiring formal clothes

(transitive)

To put clothes (or, formerly, armour) on (oneself or someone, a doll, a mannequin, etc.); to clothe.

To design, make, provide, or select clothes (for someone).

To arrange or style (someone's hair).

To adorn or ornament (something).

To apply a dressing to or otherwise treat (a wound); (obsolete) to give (a wounded person) medical aid.

To fit or prepare (something) for use; to render (something) suitable for an intended purpose; to get ready.

To cultivate or tend to (a garden, land, plants, etc.); especially, to add fertilizer or manure to (soil); to fertilize, to manure.

(cooking) To prepare (food) for cooking or eating, especially by seasoning it; specifically, to add a dressing or sauce (to food, especially a salad).

(military) To arrange (soldiers or troops) into proper formation; especially, to adjust (soldiers or troops) into straight lines and at a proper distance from each other; to align.

To treat (someone) in a particular manner; specifically, in an appropriate or fitting manner; to give (someone) a deserved beating; also, to give (someone) a good scolding; to dress down.

(obsolete) To break in and train (a horse or other animal) for use.

To prepare (oneself); to make ready.

(intransitive)

To put on clothes.

Of a thing: to attain a certain condition after undergoing some process or treatment to fit or prepare it for use.

To allow one's penis to fall to one side or the other within one's trousers.

(slang) cross-dress

Of an animal carcass: to have a certain quantity or weight after removal of the internal organs and skin; also, to have a certain appearance after being cut up and prepared for cooking.

Of soldiers or troops: to arrange into proper formation; especially, to form into straight lines and at a proper distance from each other.

(sports) Of a sportsperson: to put on the uniform and have the equipment needed to play a sport.

(countable)

An item of clothing (usually worn by a woman or young girl) which both covers the upper part of the body and includes a skirt below the waist.

Ellipsis of dress rehearsal

(uncountable)

Apparel or clothing, especially when appropriate for a particular occasion, profession, etc.

(archaic) The act of putting on clothes, especially fashionable ones, or for a particular (especially formal) occasion.

(by extension)

(obsolete) The act of applying a dressing to or otherwise treating a wound; also, the dressing so applied.

To direct; to put right or straight; to regulate; to order.

To arrange in exact continuity of line, as soldiers; commonly to adjust to a straight line and at proper distance; to align; as, to dress the ranks.

To treat methodically with remedies, bandages, or curative appliances, as a sore, an ulcer, a wound, or a wounded or diseased part.

To adjust; to put in good order; to arrange; specifically: (a) To prepare for use; to fit for any use; to render suitable for an intended purpose; to get ready; as, to dress a slain animal; to dress meat; to dress leather or cloth; to dress or trim a lamp; to dress a garden; to dress a horse, by currying and rubbing; to dress grain, by cleansing it; in mining and metallurgy, to dress ores, by sorting and separating them.

To cut to proper dimensions, or give proper shape to, as to a tool by hammering; also, to smooth or finish.

To put in proper condition by appareling, as the body; to put clothes upon; to apparel; to invest with garments or rich decorations; to clothe; to deck.

To break and train for use, as a horse or other animal.

To arrange one's self in due position in a line of soldiers; - the word of command to form alignment in ranks; as, Dress right, dress!

To clothe or apparel one's self; to put on one's garments; to pay particular regard to dress; as, to dress quickly.

That which is used as the covering or ornament of the body; clothes; garments; habit; apparel.

A lady's gown; as, silk or a velvet dress.

The system of furrows on the face of a millstone.

A one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice

Clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion;

Clothing in general;

Put on clothes;

Provide with clothes or put clothes on;

Put a finish on;

Dress in a certain manner;

Dress or groom with elaborate care;

Arrange in ranks;

Decorate (food), as with parsley or other ornamental foods

Provide with decoration;

Put a dressing on;

Cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of;

Cut down rough-hewn (lumber) to standard thickness and width

Convert into leather;

Apply a bandage or medication to;

Give a neat appearance to;

Arrange attractively;

Suitable for formal occasions;

(of an occasion) requiring formal clothes;

A dress can be considered a gown if it is designed for formal occasions and has elaborate features.

Most gowns are traditionally long, especially for formal events, but there are exceptions.

While gowns are often associated with evening events, some can be worn for daytime formal occasions.

Yes, a more formal, sophisticated dress can be appropriate for certain formal events.

Yes, dress codes like "white tie" or "black tie" often require gowns for women.

Traditionally, gowns are women's attire, but there are ceremonial gowns like academic or judicial gowns that men wear.

Consider the event's formality, venue, and time of day; gowns are suited for more formal, evening events.

Yes, depending on the designer, materials, and details, dresses can be as expensive as gowns.

Depending on the gown's design and fabric, special undergarments may be necessary for the desired silhouette.

It depends on the gown's style; simpler gowns can be suitable for semi-formal events.

Generally, yes, as dresses tend to be less restrictive and lighter than many gowns.

Typically, gowns are long, but a very formal, elaborate short dress might be considered a gown in certain contexts.

Gowns often require special care, such as dry cleaning or careful hand washing, due to their delicate fabrics.