vestment

noun

vest·​ment ˈves(t)-mənt How to pronounce vestment (audio)
1
a
: an outer garment
especially : a robe of ceremony or office
b
vestments ˈves(t)-mənts How to pronounce vestment (audio) plural : clothing, garb
2
: a covering resembling a garment
3
: one of the articles of the ceremonial attire and insignia worn by ecclesiastical officiants and assistants as indicative of their rank and appropriate to the rite being celebrated
vestmental adjective

Examples of vestment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web More recently, Francis lamented seeing young priests in Rome shopping for vestments adorned with lace, a style favored by traditionalists. Ruth Graham, New York Times, 29 Nov. 2023 At the moment he is officially crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Coronation Chair, King Charles will be wearing vestments worn by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth, at her 1953 coronation. Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 2 May 2023 Her Catholic upbringing gave her a fascination with the priest’s act of getting dressed in his vestments. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 5 Oct. 2023 The crimson velvet vestment was commissioned for King Charles' mother to wear at her own coronation in 1953 and has been conserved with adjustments by Ede and Ravenscroft, the oldest tailor in London. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 6 May 2023 In October, the Polish defense ministry announced plans to purchase three hundred altars, which reportedly included chalices, crosses, candlesticks, and camouflage liturgical vestments. Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Feb. 2022 Then, during the ceremony, Charles reused golden vestments which have been worn for nearly every coronation since 1821, including the Colobium Sindonis, the Supertunica, the Imperial Mantle, the Coronation Sword Belt and the Coronation Glove. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 May 2023 The velvet vestment was commissioned for King Charles' mother to wear at her own coronation in 1953. Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 6 May 2023 The methods of invocation, the forms of the circles, the vestments, even the incenses have changed little, if at all. Kent Russell, Harper's Magazine, 11 May 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vestment.' 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

Middle English vestement, from Anglo-French, from Latin vestimentum, from vestire to clothe

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

Dictionary Entries Near vestment

Cite this Entry

“Vestment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vestment. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vestment

noun
vest·​ment ˈves(t)-mənt How to pronounce vestment (audio)
: an outer garment especially for wear during ceremonies or by an official

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