costume vs. regalia vs. garb
– C1-C2 (advanced) –
Practice Your Listening Comprehension
Practice Your Reading Comprehension
It is a common mistake among learners of the English language to use the word, “costume,” when it is not appropriate. In such a situation, words like “regalia” or sometimes “garb” should be used, instead. Here is why:
COSTUME
In Canadian English, this countable noun typically means:
(standard)
hair, makeup, clothing, accessories, and footwear that a person wears in order to pretend to be someone or something else for entertainment purposes (e.g., outfit for a Halloween event, look for a themed party (‘80s, musical artists, Disney characters, etc.), role that an actor plays in film or on stage, etc.)
NOTE
“Costume” in Canada has a connotation of frivolity, meaning it often refers to silliness, fun, and a general lack of seriousness.
REGALIA
In Canadian English, this uncountable noun typically means:
(standard)
hair, makeup, clothing, accessories, and footwear that belong to a particular culture, especially Indigenous cultures, and are usually worn for formal or ceremonial purposes
NOTE
“Regalia” in Canada has a connotation of significance, seriousness and sacredness.
GARB
In Canadian English, this uncountable noun typically means:
(formal)
hair, makeup, clothing, accessories, and footwear that belong to a particular style, in general (e.g., professional uniform, culture, historical time period, etc.)
NOTE
“Garb” in Canada, when referring to a culture or historical time period, has a connotation of politeness, respect and specificity.
EXAMPLES
“For Halloween this year my son’s costume is a hand-me-down. Last year, he dressed up as Winnie the Pooh, which we bought from a store; this year, he is dressing up as a giraffe, which we got from a friend.”
“The Jingle Dress is both a type of dress and dance. Each holds a profound meaning to Indigenous peoples across Canada and the USA. The dress can often be seen worn as part of a person’s regalia at powwows, where it serves as a symbol of spiritual and ancestral connection, healing, and asserting identity.”
“Sabots are a traditional shoe that belong to the cultural garb of Acadia in Canada. One of their original uses was to protect the feet of the working-class people from the wet, marshy land of the Maritime region.”
THE MISTAKE
Most learners of the English language want to speak politely to others. Unfortunately, learners do not always know how to do this because being polite changes from culture to culture and language to language. This includes small things like vocabulary.
The equivalent of the word, “costume,” in many other languages is often used as a general term. However, in English, especially in Canadian English, this word is considered specific due to both its dictionary definition and its cultural connotation. This is why it can often be considered rude or even offensive to use the word, “costume,” when referring to ceremonial items, like Indigenous ribbon skirts or feather headdresses, and cultural staples, like burqas or turbans. To avoid making this mistake, the words "regalia” and “garb” can be used, respectively.
