button-down

1 of 2

adjective

but·​ton-down ˈbə-tᵊn-ˌdau̇n 

1

a

of a collar : having the ends fastened to the garment with buttons

b of a shirt

(1)

: having a button-down collar

(2)

: having buttons from the collar to the waist

2

or buttoned-down

ˈbə-tᵊn(d)-ˌdau̇n 

: conservatively traditional or conventional

especially : adhering to conventional norms in dress and behavior

button-down businessmen

button-down

2 of 2

noun

: a shirt with a button-down collar

Synonyms

Adjective

• archconservative
• brassbound
• conservative
• die-hard
• hidebound
• mossbacked
• old-fashioned
• old-line
• old-school
• orthodox
• paleoconservative
• reactionary
• standpat
• traditional
• traditionalistic
• ultraconservative
• unprogressive

Examples of button-down in a Sentence

Adjective

a button-down architectural firm would never have the imagination to produce such a cutting-edge design

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Remember Zendaya's sleek cropped button-down in 2023? —Glamour, 2 Mar. 2025

Skirt or pants: paired with a button-down and a cardigan for versatility. —David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025

Noun

Behold, the dark academia starter pack: a pleated skirt, an argyle sweater, and a button-down shirt. —Hannah Oh, Seventeen, 17 Mar. 2023

The button-down top with chest pocket and drawstring shorts are made from 95 percent premium viscose from bamboo, making for an amazingly cozy-meets-cooling feel. —Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1924, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for button-down

• chinatown
• tumbledown
• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown