cotillion

noun

co·​til·​lion kō-ˈtil-yən How to pronounce cotillion (audio)
kə-
variants or less commonly cotillon
kō-ˈtil-yən How to pronounce cotillion (audio)
kə-,
kȯ-tē-(y)ōⁿ
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
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.
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 There is even a French cotillion cake, made with cocoa sponge, Grand Mariner buttercream, dark chocolate ganache, Bavarian chocolate, and Grand Mariner punch. Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 12 Nov. 2024 Iger, who is set to exit Disney at the end of 2026, has a cotillion with Dana Walden, Alan Bergman and Josh D’Amaro, as well as CFO Hugh Johnston. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 10 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for cotillion

Word History

Etymology

French cotillon, literally, petticoat, from Old French, from cote coat

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cotillion was in 1728

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Cite this Entry

“Cotillion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cotillion. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

cotillion

noun
co·​til·​lion kō-ˈtil-yən How to pronounce cotillion (audio)
kə-
1
: a complicated formal dance with frequent changing of partners
2
: a formal ball

More from Merriam-Webster on cotillion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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