A costume is a set of clothes worn to look like someone or something else, often for performances, parties, or special events.
It comes from Italian “costume,” meaning “custom, fashion, dress,” from Latin “consuetudo” (custom). Originally it referred to the typical clothing of a time or place before focusing on theatrical or playful dress.
When you put on a costume, you’re not just changing clothes—you’re borrowing another identity. That’s why people often feel bolder or sillier in costume; the outfit gives ‘permission’ to act differently. The word’s root in ‘custom’ hints that everyday clothes are also a kind of costume set by society.
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