cotillion
noun
co·til·lion
kō-ˈtil-yən 
kə-
variants
or less commonly cotillon
1
: a ballroom dance for couples that resembles the quadrille
2
: an elaborate dance with frequent changing of partners carried out under the leadership of one couple at formal balls
3
: a formal ball
Examples of cotillion in a Sentence
young men hoping to meet the women of their dreams at the cotillion
Recent Examples on the Web
This picture is one of a few taken at cotillion, a largely Southern tradition of etiquette classes and formal dance instruction for middle schoolers.
—
Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
Her childhood was crawfish boils and auditions, not high society balls and cotillions.
—Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2025
Even as other Collin County communities faced violence during Reconstruction, the Douglass community hosted cotillions, established several churches and looked out for each other.
—Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025
However, when the time came around for her daughter’s debut in the cotillion, the mom and daughter decided to repurpose Keys-Randell’s wedding dress as a ballgown for the event.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cotillion
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Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
Her childhood was crawfish boils and auditions, not high society balls and cotillions.
—Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2025
Even as other Collin County communities faced violence during Reconstruction, the Douglass community hosted cotillions, established several churches and looked out for each other.
—Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025
However, when the time came around for her daughter’s debut in the cotillion, the mom and daughter decided to repurpose Keys-Randell’s wedding dress as a ballgown for the event.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cotillion
Cite this Entry
“Cotillion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cotillion. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cotillion
noun
co·til·lion
kō-ˈtil-yən
kə-
1
: a complicated formal dance with frequent changing of partners
2
: a formal ball
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