cap sleeve

noun

: a very short sleeve (as on a dress) that hangs over the edge of the shoulder without extending along the underside of the arm

Examples of cap sleeve in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Wiholl’s trendy cap sleeve dress strikes a nice balance between casual and polished. — Aashna Gheewalla, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026 The boho-style minidress featured a scoop neckline with cap sleeves and a plunging lace bodice held together by a thin drawstring. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 5 June 2026 The cap sleeves add subtle detail, and the colorful stripes are an easy way to add personality to a closet full of neutrals. — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 From wedding-guest-worthy dresses to a $15 casual T-shirt dress, our top picks have loose cap sleeves, breezy bell sleeves perfect for the Southern heat, and puff sleeves for a touch of drama. — Kenedee Fowler, Southern Living, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cap sleeve

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cap sleeve was in 1885

Rhymes for cap sleeve

See All Rhymes for cap sleeve

Browse Nearby Words

capsize
cap sleeve
caps lock
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cap sleeve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cap%20sleeve. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All