bodycon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal (Fashion/Consumer Journalism, Lifestyle Media)
Quick answer
What does “bodycon” mean?
A style of tight-fitting women's clothing, often a dress, designed to hug and reveal the contours of the body.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A style of tight-fitting women's clothing, often a dress, designed to hug and reveal the contours of the body.
In extended fashion discourse, it can refer to the entire aesthetic of figure-hugging, body-conscious clothing, or the specific fabric and cut that creates this effect. Less commonly, it can function as an adjective describing such items.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is equally understood and used in fashion contexts in both regions.
Connotations
Slightly more established in UK fashion media due to its earlier popularisation, but the connotation of a sexy, confident, clubbing or event-appropriate garment is consistent.
Frequency
Equally frequent in fashion-forward contexts in both varieties. Less common in general, non-fashion conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “bodycon” in a Sentence
She wore a [bodycon].The [bodycon dress] was a hit.It's a [black, sequinned] bodycon.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bodycon” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- She opted for a bold bodycon look for the awards ceremony.
- The bodycon trend seems to be making a comeback this season.
American English
- She found the perfect little black bodycon dress.
- The store's new arrivals are full of bodycon styles.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in the business of fashion retail or journalism (e.g., 'The spring collection features several bodycon styles.').
Academic
Very rare, potentially in cultural or fashion studies.
Everyday
Common in conversations about fashion, clothing, events, or shopping. Not a general daily word.
Technical
Used in fashion design, garment construction, and styling.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bodycon”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bodycon”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bodycon”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'She bodyconed' is incorrect).
- Spelling it as 'body con', 'body-con', or 'bodicon'.
- Applying it to any tight item of clothing, like jeans or a t-shirt.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The term is overwhelmingly applied to women's fashion. While men can wear extremely tight-fitting clothing, it is not conventionally described as 'bodycon.'
They are closely related. A bandage dress is a specific type of bodycon dress made from vertical strips of material, often resembling bandages. All bandage dresses are bodycon, but not all bodycon dresses are bandage dresses.
Primarily, it is used as a noun modifier (e.g., bodycon dress). It can function attributively as an adjective (e.g., a bodycon style), but it is not typically used predicatively (e.g., 'This dress is very bodycon' is non-standard).
Styles that de-emphasize the body's contours are opposites. These include shift dresses, A-line dresses, empire waist dresses, smock dresses, or loose-fitting silhouettes like caftans.
A style of tight-fitting women's clothing, often a dress, designed to hug and reveal the contours of the body.
Bodycon is usually informal (fashion/consumer journalism, lifestyle media) in register.
Bodycon: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒdiːkɒn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːdiːkɑːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: To be confident (CON) in showing your BODY. BODY + CONfident = BODYCON.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLOTHING IS A SECOND SKIN (The garment acts like a revealing, contour-emphasizing layer).
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the word 'bodycon' MOST appropriately used?