Meaning & use
a tux
Last updated
UK/ə ˈtʌks/
US/ə ˈtʌks/
Meaning
nouncountable
A formal black or dark suit for men, worn with a bow tie at weddings, parties, and similar events.
Grammar: Countable: say 'a tux', 'two tuxes', or 'the tux'.
Patterns
- wear a tux
- rent a tux
- a tux and a bow tie
He rented a tux for his sister's wedding.
All the men at the party were wearing tuxes.
I need to buy a tux before the awards dinner.
Word forms
| plural | tuxes |
|---|
Common combinations
- wear a tux
- Guests are asked to wear a tux at the ceremony.
- rent a tux
- It is often cheaper to rent a tux than to buy one.
- a black tux
- He looked smart in a black tux with a white shirt.
- a tux fitting
- He has a tux fitting at the tailor's tomorrow.
Synonyms and how they differ
- dinner jacket
- This is the British term for the same kind of formal jacket, so use it in British contexts.
- tuxedo
- This is the full American word; 'tux' is simply its informal short form.
- formal suit
- This is a wider term that can include other kinds of very formal clothing.
Word family
- tuxedo noun
- The full form of 'tux', meaning the same formal suit.
Commonly confused: a tux or tuxedo?
a tux vs tuxedo
'Tuxedo' is the full word; 'tux' is its short informal form. Both refer to the same clothing.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'a tux' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'A tux' is a countable noun for a formal suit, so 'rented a tux for the wedding' fits. The other options use 'tux' with the wrong meaning or as an uncountable noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a tux”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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