Standard Lemma guide

ballgown

noun · verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈbɔːl.ɡaʊn/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A formal gown to be worn by women to balls and similar social events.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: business, clothing, fashion, lifestyle, manufacturing, textiles

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: balldress

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To roleplay romance as part of a roleplaying game.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, intransitive

Qualifier: live action roleplaying games

Examples

  • She'll take any excuse to ballgown!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From ball + gown.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: balrok — formal gown
  • Danish: balkjole — formal gown
  • French: robe de bal — formal gown
  • Irish: gúna damhsa — formal gown
  • Latin: cyclas — formal gown
  • Norwegian Bokmål: ballkjole — formal gown
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: ballkjole — formal gown
  • Portuguese: vestido de gala — formal gown
  • Turkish: balo elbisesi — formal gown