Did you know?
The Fashionable History of Bodice
The term bodice is derived from body. One sense of the word body is “the part of a garment covering the body or trunk.” In the 17th and 18th centuries a woman’s corset was often called a “pair of bodies.” The plural bodies, or bodice, was eventually interpreted as a singular. Bodice is now most often used to refer to the upper part of a woman’s dress.
Learn more about bodice history
Examples of bodice in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The neckline and bodice also featured contrasted fabric to the more muted emerald tone of the midi dress.
—
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
For the occasion, Lopez stepped out in a sculptural Harris Reed gown with a spider-like bodice from the designer's spring 2026 collection.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
Kardashian wore a skin-tight white dress with a halter bodice for the event.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
The dress featured a collared neckline lined with white fur, which also lined the bottom of both sleeves, in addition to a row of bows which go down the bodice.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bodice
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
For the occasion, Lopez stepped out in a sculptural Harris Reed gown with a spider-like bodice from the designer's spring 2026 collection.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
Kardashian wore a skin-tight white dress with a halter bodice for the event.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
The dress featured a collared neckline lined with white fur, which also lined the bottom of both sleeves, in addition to a row of bows which go down the bodice.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bodice
Cite this Entry
“Bodice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bodice. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bodice
noun
bod·ice
ˈbäd-əs 
: the upper part of a dress
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share