tailor
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /tˈeɪlə/
US
- /ˈteɪlər/
Description
- make or adjust clothes
- customize
- adapt
- fit a specific need
A tailor is not just someone who makes clothes, though they certainly can. A tailor is a skilled worker who adjusts clothes to fit you well or creates new pieces made for your body and style. Think of a custom suit made to look good on the person wearing it; that is the mark of a tailor.
The word "tailor" originally referred to someone who cut cloth, from the Old French "tailler," meaning "to cut." Today, though, it means more than just cutting. It suggests care, skill, and making something fit a particular person or purpose. You might say a politician "tailors" a message for different voters, or a chef "tailors" a recipe for dietary needs. In both cases, the idea is the same: changing something so it fits better.
To tailor means to make, alter, or adapt something so that it fits a particular person or need with care and skill. Traditionally, a tailor is a skilled person who makes custom-fitted clothing, especially suits and other formal clothes. A tailor takes careful measurements, cuts fabric, and sews it together to create clothes shaped for one individual.
However, the word "tailor" is not limited to the world of fashion. Its meaning has expanded to describe any process of adapting something to a specific purpose or audience. For example, a teacher might "tailor" lessons for different learning styles, a writer might "tailor" their style for a certain group of readers, and a company might "tailor" its marketing to reach a new group of people.
The core idea of tailoring is customization: taking something general and making it specific so it fits well or works better. It involves attention to detail, careful changes, and the goal of creating something suited to a person or situation. Whether you are visiting a professional for a well-fitted jacket or describing how someone changes an approach to get a better result, "tailor" points to the art of careful fitting and thoughtful adaptation.
Examples
- 1
Clothing repair
She took the coat to a tailor to have the sleeves shortened.
- 2
Suit fitting
The suit was tailored to fit him properly.
- 3
Beginner course
The course is tailored to beginners, so you don't need any experience.
Pattern
tailor something to + person/situation
make it fit that person or situation
- 4
Teaching
Good teachers tailor their lessons to the needs of the class.
- 5
Advertising
We tailored the ad campaign for young parents.
Pattern
tailor something for + person/group
make it especially for that person or group
- 6
Business solution
The company is looking for a tailor-made solution rather than a standard package.
Phrase
tailor-made
specially designed for a particular purpose
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- tailornounverb
Forms
- tailoredpast tenseverbnoun
- tailoring-ing formverbnoun
- tailorspluralnounverb