Meanings
plural vestments
- A robe, gown, or other article of clothing worn as an indication of office.
The priest wore a white vestment during the ceremony.
1 more example
Medieval paintings often depict bishops in ornate vestments.
- Any of the special articles of clothing worn by members of the clergy etc., especially a garment worn at the celebration of the Eucharist.
liturgical vestment
2 more examples
ceremonial vestment
ecclesiastical vestment
- archaicAn article of clothing, especially an outer garment.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounClothing.
Origin
- Latinvestīmentum
- Old Frenchvestement
- Middle Englishvestement
- Englishvestment
From Middle English vestement, vestment, from Old French vestement, from Latin vestīmentum. By surface analysis, vest + -ment. Compare French vêtement.
More words from Middle English, Old French, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Czech roucho, háv
- rouchorobe worn by members of the clergy
- hávrobe worn by members of the clergy
- oděvrobe worn by members of the clergy
German Ornat
- Ornatrobe worn by members of the clergy
Greek άμφιο
- άμφιο (ámfio)robe worn by members of the clergy
Hungarian ornátus, miseruha
- ornátusrobe worn by members of the clergy
- miseruharobe worn by members of the clergy
Irish éide, brat altóra
- éiderobe worn by members of the clergy
- brat altórarobe worn by members of the clergy
Polish ornat
- ornatrobe worn by members of the clergy
Russian облаче́ние
- облаче́ние (oblačénije)robe worn by members of the clergy
Cite this entry
vestment. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/vestment
“vestment.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/vestment. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “vestment,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/vestment.
Source: vestment on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.