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
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 The prison had a bakery, mechanic, tailor shop, newspaper and sawmill, and prisoners handled the city’s construction projects. Leila Miller, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2024 The design, which Spangle began developing in 2020 with Neapolitan tailor Sartoria Caracciolo, addresses how tools, transport, and climate have all changed since the suit’s emergence in the late 19th century. Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2024 Photo: Giro Studios Biomedical startups are using artificial intelligence to predict the response patients will have to cancer treatments, aiming to increase the success of drugs in clinical trials and tailor therapies to individuals. Brian Gormley, WSJ, 28 Dec. 2023
Verb
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 Editors’ Picks The tech industry is essentially maturing and becoming more like banking, automobiles and health care, with companies tailoring their products and services to local laws and regulations, said Greg Taylor, an Oxford University professor focused on competition in technology markets. David McCabe, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024 By harnessing specific techniques tailored to their unique strengths and challenges, women can navigate the complexities of advocacy with confidence and impact. Kalina Bryant, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Each celebration is tailored to fit the culture of the local community. Tracy Scott Forson, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 But Take Note The magnesium amount in each gummy is less than other magnesium supplements, but this can also help tailor the dose to your individual needs. Casey Seiden, Parents, 24 Feb. 2024 Key Takeaways Understand the CPA Exam Structure: Familiarize yourself with the format, sections (AUD, FAR, REG, and discipline sections), and types of questions (MCQs and TBS) to tailor your study plan effectively. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2024 Working hand-in-hand with their clients, the firm aims to resolve cases as promptly as possible and tailor all strategies to meet the unique needs of each case and person. Nick Kasmik, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 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 19 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!