variants
or less commonly black tie
: characterized by or requiring the wearing of semiformal evening clothes consisting of a usually black tie and tuxedo for men and a formal dress for women
a black-tie dinner
compare white-tie
: semiformal clothing
gentlemen in black tie for the banquet
Examples of black-tie in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
Guests are invited to dress in black-tie attire.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2026
Katrina Kaufman, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Neither President Barack Obama, Trump during his first term nor President Joe Biden hosted similarly-formal events, opting to welcome presidents, prime ministers and chancellors in black tie.
—Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for black-tie
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Adjective
The April 25 shooting incident forced organizers to postpone the annual dinner, a black-tie affair attended by nearly 3,000 journalists, politicians, corporate executives and others.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
Guests are invited to dress in black-tie attire.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2026
Noun
On the night of the shooting, reporters gathered in the White House press briefing room, some still dressed in black tie.
—Katrina Kaufman, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Neither President Barack Obama, Trump during his first term nor President Joe Biden hosted similarly-formal events, opting to welcome presidents, prime ministers and chancellors in black tie.
—Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for black-tie
Cite this Entry
“Black-tie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black-tie. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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