fontange: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowHistorical, formal, literary
Quick answer
What does “fontange” mean?
A tall headdress worn by women in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, consisting of tiers of lace or linen arranged on a wire frame.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tall headdress worn by women in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, consisting of tiers of lace or linen arranged on a wire frame.
Historically, a specific style of elaborate hairstyle or head ornamentation fashionable at the French court, named after the Duchess of Fontanges; by extension, any excessively ornate or outdated fashion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally obscure in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries connotations of historical specificity, aristocratic excess, and bygone fashions.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary usage, found primarily in academic historical texts or detailed costume descriptions.
Grammar
How to Use “fontange” in a Sentence
wear + a fontangeadorned with + a fontangethe fashion of + the fontangeVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, art history, or fashion studies contexts to describe period attire.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used as a precise term in costume design for historical reenactment or theatre.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fontange”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “fontange”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fontange”
- Mispronouncing it as /ˈfɒntɪndʒ/ (like 'font' + 'age').
- Using it to describe any old-fashioned hat, rather than the specific historical structure.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an extremely rare and historical term, used almost exclusively by costume historians, art historians, or in very specific literary contexts.
It is an eponym, derived from Marie Angélique de Scorailles, Duchess of Fontanges (1661-1681), a mistress of King Louis XIV of France, who was said to have popularised the style.
No, it is strictly a noun. There are no attested standard verb or adjective forms (e.g., 'to fontange' or 'fontangish').
The main challenge is contextual appropriateness. Using it outside a clear historical or descriptive context related to 17th-18th century European fashion would likely confuse listeners or readers.
A tall headdress worn by women in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, consisting of tiers of lace or linen arranged on a wire frame.
Fontange is usually historical, formal, literary in register.
Fontange: in British English it is pronounced /fɒnˈtɒ̃ʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /fɑnˈtɑnʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of FONTAinGE: imagine a fountain of lace and ribbons geysering from a lady's head in a French court painting.
Conceptual Metaphor
FASHION IS ARCHITECTURE (a tall, structured construction)
Practice
Quiz
A 'fontange' is primarily associated with which of the following?