peignoir

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableold-fashioned

   A light, loose gown worn by a woman over her nightclothes, often made of thin fabric.

   Grammar: Countable: a peignoir, two peignoirs.

   Patterns

   • a peignoir over something

   She drifted down the stairs in a pale silk peignoir.

   The bride packed a lace peignoir for the honeymoon.

   In the old film, the heroine answers the door in a flowing peignoir.

2. 2nouncountablerare

   A loose wrap worn on the shoulders at a hairdresser's or while dressing, to protect the clothes.

   Grammar: A rarer, original French use; mostly seen in historical writing.

   The hairdresser draped a cotton peignoir around the customer's shoulders.

   A peignoir kept the powder from falling on her dress.

Word forms

Common combinations

silk peignoir

The actress wore a silk peignoir in the scene.

sheer peignoir

A sheer peignoir hung on the bedroom door.

lace peignoir

Her grandmother's lace peignoir was kept in tissue paper.

peignoir set

A matching peignoir set was a typical wedding gift.

in a peignoir

She appeared in a peignoir, with her hair still in curlers.

Synonyms and how they differ

negligee

Negligee is almost the same and often sheerer, while peignoir may be a separate robe worn over a nightgown.

dressing gown

Dressing gown is the common British word and suggests a thicker, practical garment.

robe

Robe is the everyday word and can be of any fabric, whereas peignoir is delicate and slightly romantic.

bathrobe

Bathrobe is thick and made for after bathing, unlike the light peignoir.

Word family

peignoir set noun

a matching nightgown and light robe

negligee noun

a similar delicate garment

Commonly confused: peignoir or pinafore?

Practice

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