redingote: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareFormal, Literary, Historical, Fashion-specific
Quick answer
What does “redingote” mean?
A long, fitted, formal coat for women, often with a contrasting front panel and worn open.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A long, fitted, formal coat for women, often with a contrasting front panel and worn open.
Historically, a long, full-skirted riding coat worn by men in the 18th century; in modern usage, it refers exclusively to a sophisticated, tailored overcoat or dress for women, often with military-style detailing, worn as formal or cold-weather attire.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The word is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes high fashion, historical costume, or period drama in both contexts.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency. Most likely encountered in historical novels, fashion journalism, or costume design contexts in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “redingote” in a Sentence
She wore a [Adjective] redingote.The [Material] redingote was stylish.A redingote [Verb Phrase, e.g., with military buttons]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “redingote” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The redingote silhouette was very popular.
American English
- She preferred a redingote style for her winter coat.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, costume, or fashion studies to describe a specific garment.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would be considered a very sophisticated or obscure word.
Technical
Used as a precise term in fashion design, pattern-making, and historical costume curation.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “redingote”
- Misspelling as 'reddingote' or 'reading coat'.
- Using it to refer to any casual coat or jacket.
- Pronouncing it as /riːdɪŋɡoʊt/ (like 'read').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare and specialised word, primarily used in fashion, historical, or literary contexts.
Historically, yes—it was originally a man's riding coat. In modern usage, it almost exclusively refers to women's fashion.
It is pronounced RED-in-goat in British English and RED-in-goat (with a longer 'o') in American English. The first syllable rhymes with 'bed'.
It comes from the French pronunciation of the English phrase 'riding coat', which was borrowed back into English in its Frenchified form.
A long, fitted, formal coat for women, often with a contrasting front panel and worn open.
Redingote is usually formal, literary, historical, fashion-specific in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'riding coat' -> RE(DING)OTE. A RED INGOT might be heavy, but a redingote is a heavy, formal coat.
Conceptual Metaphor
FORMALITY IS A LAYERED GARMENT; HISTORY IS WORN.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'redingote' primarily known as today?