tailor

1 of 2

noun

tai·​lor ˈtā-lər How to pronounce tailor (audio)
: a person whose occupation is making or altering garments (such as suits, jackets, and dresses) typically to fit a particular person

tailor

2 of 2

verb

tailored; tailoring; tailors

transitive verb

1
a
: to make or fashion as the work of a tailor
b
: to make or adapt to suit a special need or purpose
2
: to fit with clothes
3
: to style with trim straight lines and finished handwork

intransitive verb

: to do the work of a tailor

Examples of tailor in a Sentence

Verb I had my suit tailored. They tailored the show for younger audiences.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
There’s a big gap in the market to have something beautifully made, especially from a Savile Row tailor. Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2024 This mimics the effect of Tampa’s early mixto crafters, who pressed the meat with heavy tailor’s irons to sear the sugar and produce a glaze. Andrew Barrett Schrader, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 Tracking these exchanges can also help tailor schedules based on employee preferences. 5. Laurie Sewell, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 The tailor rushed the order and finished the dress in about a week for an extra $650. Andrea Klick, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2024 Looking for a quick fix to save your clothes without splashing out on a tailor? Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2024 Also, tailor training per department and consider the relative security maturity of participants. Stu Sjouwerman, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 In the time since, La Bagatelle — which offers clothing made by independent tailors in Copenhagen from artisanal and vintage fabrics Malling finds on her travels to places such as India, Japan and Nepal — has continued to grow. Ellie Pithers, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024 On Instagram, stylist Molly Dickson shared two photos of the red leather jacket fashion designer and tailor Sugar Ferrini made for the the singer. Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 12 Feb. 2024
Verb
This Magneto skateboard is specifically tailored for kids and teens looking for their first board. Deanna McCormack, Parents, 19 Mar. 2024 Those with an elevated risk, perhaps due to family history or other factors, should consult their health care provider to determine the best screening schedule and methods tailored to their specific needs. Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 If a remodel is involved, tailor the basics of the room to suit your home's style. Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2024 Research suggests that males even improvise, tailoring their show to the female’s taste — finally, a proper Romeo. 7. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024 Last year, Hobbs convened a water policy council to create a new regulation option tailored to rural communities, but legislation to codify its recommendations has yet to receive a hearing. The Arizona Republic, 13 Mar. 2024 Adaptive also provides a platform for running the reinforcement learning algorithms that tailors the model, as this process is difficult for many non-expert teams to implement. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024 The company also built a robust platform with recommendations based on a user’s past viewing habits, with trailers and titles promoted tailored to their tastes. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024 Employment data suggest that a growing number of people are prioritizing work-life balance in a more meaningful way or, increasingly cynical about traditional work arrangements, are tailoring those structures to work for them. Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tailor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English taillour, from Anglo-French taillur, from tailler, taillier to cut, from Late Latin taliare, from Latin talea plant cutting, thin piece of wood

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1719, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of tailor was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near tailor

Cite this Entry

“Tailor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailor. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tailor

1 of 2 noun
tai·​lor ˈtā-lər How to pronounce tailor (audio)
: a person whose occupation is making or making adjustments in outer garments

tailor

2 of 2 verb
1
: to make or fashion as the work of a tailor
2
: to make or make suitable for a special need or purpose

More from Merriam-Webster on tailor

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