undress

undress — adjective

1. relating to the everyday uniform that soldiers wear for routine duties, rather t

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

relating to the everyday uniform that soldiers wear for routine duties, rather than the formal ceremonial dress uniform with decorations.

Example

Hari wore his undress uniform for the morning inspection at the barracks.

attributive use: undress uniform

The undress uniform has simpler decorations than the formal dress version.

contrast with dress uniform

Common collocations
  • undress uniform
  • undress code
Synonyms
  • informal

    broader term for any casual clothing, not limited to military

  • everyday

    less specific; refers to ordinary daily wear in any context

Antonyms
  • dress

    refers to the formal ceremonial military uniform; opposite end of the spectrum

Grammar Patterns

undress + noun (only before a noun)

Usage Note

Almost always used attributively before the noun 'uniform' in military contexts. Not commonly found outside of armed-forces descriptions.

Common Mistakes

The soldier was in undress.
The soldier wore his undress uniform.
As an adjective, 'undress' must modify a noun and is not used predicatively.

undress — noun

undress — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four expressions describe removing clothing, but they differ in tone and scope. 'Undress' is the neutral, everyday verb for removing all or most of one's clothes — you undress before a shower or help a child undress for bed. 'Strip' is more forceful and often implies speed or unwillingness: a prisoner is stripped for a search, or someone strips down to their swimsuit in a hurry. 'Disrobe' is noticeably formal and literary, commonly used for ceremonial or theatrical contexts — a performer disrobes backstage, or a judge disrobes after leaving the courtroom. 'Take off (one's) clothes' is the most general phrasal alternative, but it works for single garments too ('take off your coat'), whereas 'undress' implies the whole body. For everyday situations, 'undress' and 'get undressed' are the safest choices.

undress ↗stripdisrobetake off clothes

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • a state of undress
  • help someone undress
  • get undressed

Prepositions

  • in (a state of)
  • behind (a curtain/screen)
  • in front of

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed in the 16th century from the prefix un- (meaning 'reversal') and the verb dress, which comes from Old French dresser meaning 'to arrange, set up, or prepare.' The original sense was 'to take off clothing,' expanding by the 18th century to include the military adjective meaning 'everyday (non-ceremonial) uniform.' The noun sense 'partial or complete nakedness' emerged in the 17th century.