1.
costume; outfit (for a character, performance, or theme)
A set of clothing put on to represent a character, role, or specific setting — for example, at a play, concert, cosplay event, or Halloween party. Borrowed from English "costume."
A loanword from English "costume." In Japanese it refers almost exclusively to "dress-up clothing" — the outfit for a character, theatrical role, concert, or themed party. It does not cover ordinary "clothes" (for which 服 or 洋服 are used) or traditional national dress (for which 民族衣装 is the usual word).
Common collocations
- コスチュームを着る: to put on a costume
- コスチュームを作る: to make a costume
- アイドルのコスチューム: an idol's stage costume
- ハロウィンのコスチューム: a Halloween costume
- キャラクターのコスチューム: a character's costume
Similar words
- 衣装: costume; outfit — the native Japanese word. Common for stage, dance, film, and traditional clothing (e.g., 舞台衣装, stage costume). Broader and slightly more formal than コスチューム.
- コスプレ: cosplay — a further shortening used specifically for dressing up as anime, game, or manga characters. The outfits worn for it are called コスプレ衣装 or コスプレ用のコスチューム.
- ユニフォーム: uniform — standardized work or sports clothing; never called コスチューム.
Usage
You will encounter コスチューム most often in the worlds of theater, idol performances, Halloween, and cosplay. In more formal or traditional contexts — historical drama wardrobe, ballet, kabuki — the native word 衣装 is preferred. The two overlap but are not fully interchangeable.