• IPA: /ˈfæʃən/

fashion

1. (countable) A current (constantly changing) trend, favored for frivolous rather than practical, logical, or intellectual reasons.
   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 1, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC ↗:

     The huge square box, parquet-floored and high-ceilinged, had been arranged to display a suite of bedroom furniture designed and made in the halcyon days of the last quarter of the nineteenth century, when modish taste was just due to go clean out of fashion for the best part of the next hundred years.

2. (uncountable) Popular trends, especially in clothing; the industry that designs clothing and sometimes other related items.

   Check out the latest in fashion.

   He had always been interested in fashion, so he decided to take a sewing class.

   • 1693, [John Locke], “§208”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC ↗:

     the innocent diversions in fashion

   • 1874-1896, Herbert Spencer, Principles of Sociology Part IV

     As now existing, fashion is a form of social regulation analogous to constitutional government as a form of political regulation.

3. (countable) A style or manner in which something is done.
   • 1918 September–November, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “The Land That Time Forgot”, in The Blue Book Magazine, Chicago, Ill.: Story-press Corp., →OCLC ↗; republished as chapter V, in Hugo Gernsback, editor, Amazing Stories, (please specify |part=I to III), New York, N.Y.: Experimenter Publishing, 1927, →OCLC ↗:

     When it had advanced from the wood, it hopped much after the fashion of a kangaroo, using its hind feet and tail to propel it, and when it stood erect, it sat upon its tail.

   • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act III, scene ii]:

     Ophelia: My lord, he hath importuned me with love in honourable fashion.
     Lord Polonius: Ay, fashion you may call it; go to, go to.

4. The make or form of anything; the style, shape, appearance, or mode of structure; pattern, model; workmanship; execution.

   the fashion of the ark, of a coat, of a house, of an altar, etc.

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC ↗, Luke 9:29 ↗:

     The fashion of his countenance was altered.

   • c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act III, scene vi]:

     I do not like the fashion of your garments.

5. (dated) Polite, fashionable, or genteel life; social position; good breeding.

   men of fashion

• French: mode, vogue
• German: Mode
• Italian: moda, voga
• Portuguese: moda
• Russian: мо́да
• Spanish: moda

• French: façon
• German: Stil
• Italian: stile, maniera, modo
• Portuguese: maneira, modo, jeito
• Russian: мане́ра
• Spanish: manera, modo

• German: Mode
• Italian: tendenza
• Portuguese: moda
• Spanish: moda

fashion (fashions, present participle fashioning; simple past and past participle fashioned)

1. To make, build or construct, especially in a crude or improvised way.
   • 1918, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Land That Time Forgot Chapter IX

     I have three gourds which I fill with water and take back to my cave against the long nights. I have fashioned a spear and a bow and arrow, that I may conserve my ammunition, which is running low.

2. (dated) To make in a standard manner; to work.
   • 1691, [John Locke], Some Considerations of the Consequences of the Lowering of Interest, and Raising the Value of Money. […], London: […] Awnsham and John Churchill, […], published 1692, →OCLC ↗:

     Fashioned plate sells for more than its weight.

3. (dated) To fit, adapt, or accommodate to.
   • 1596 (date written; published 1633), Edmund Spenser, A Vewe of the Present State of Irelande […], Dublin: […] Societie of Stationers, […], →OCLC ↗; republished as A View of the State of Ireland […] (Ancient Irish Histories), Dublin: […] Society of Stationers, […] Hibernia Press, […] [b]y John Morrison, 1809, →OCLC ↗:

     Laws ought to be fashioned unto the manners and conditions of the people.

4. (obsolete) To forge or counterfeit.
   • c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act I, scene ii]:

     Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit; All with me's meet that I can fashion feet.

• French: façonner
• German: fertigen, anfertigen
• Italian: fabbricare
• Portuguese: produzir, fazer, montar, confeccionar, fabricar