ready-to-wear
UK[ˌrɛdi tə ˈwɛː]US[ˌrɛdi tə ˈwɛr]
adj
(of clothing) made in standard sizes and sold in finished condition, not made to order for an individual customer.
n
ready-to-wear clothing as a category.
Morpheme Breakdown
ready
to
wear
ready
prepared
to
function word
wear
clothing
Etymology
The compound "ready-to-wear" is a modern English formation that transparently describes its function. The adjective "ready," with its ancient sense of preparedness, is combined with the infinitive phrase "to wear," creating a direct and logical descriptor for garments. This term emerged in the late 19th to early 20th century alongside the industrialization of garment production, which shifted clothing manufacture from custom tailoring to standardized sizing. The phrase's literal meaning—"prepared to be worn"—perfectly captures the essence of mass-produced, off-the-rack fashion, contrasting with custom-made or bespoke items.
Analysis
Structure: ready (prepared) + to (function word) + wear (clothing)
- ready: From Old English rǣde (prepared, prompt), of Germanic origin. Functions as an adjective meaning "prepared".
- to: From Old English tō, a preposition and infinitive marker. Functions as a particle linking the adjective to the verb.
- wear: From Old English werian (to clothe, put on), of Germanic origin. Functions as a verb meaning "to have on as clothing".
Examples
She prefers ready-to-wear collections from contemporary designers over haute couture.
The department store's third floor is dedicated to women's ready-to-wear.
Advances in manufacturing made high-quality ready-to-wear clothing widely accessible.