Meaning & use
Subfusc
Last updated
Dull, drab, or sombre in color.
See it in a sentence
The office walls were painted a subfusc gray that matched the overcast sky outside.
She traded her bright summer wardrobe for something more subfusc as autumn set in.
A note on using this word
At Oxford University, 'subfusc' also names the formal dark clothing students wear for exams and ceremonies, a noun use borrowed from the adjective.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. noun
The formal, dark academic dress required for exams and ceremonies at Oxford University.
First-year students were told to arrive in full subfusc for matriculation.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Subfusc”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.