bespoke

1 of 2

adjective

be·​spoke bi-ˈspōk 

bē-

variants or less commonly bespoken

bi-ˈspō-kən 

bē-

1

a

: custom-made

a bespoke suit

b

: dealing in or producing custom-made articles

a bespoke tailor

2

dialect : engaged

bespoke

2 of 2

past tense of bespeak

Did you know?

In the English language of yore, the verb bespeak had various meanings, including “to speak,” “to accuse,” and “to complain.” In the 16th century, bespeak acquired another meaning: “to order.” It is from that sense that we get the adjective bespoke, referring to clothes and other things that are ordered before they are made. Bespoke has enjoyed a spike in usage in recent years, perhaps due to consumer trends that champion all things artisanal over those that are prefab.

Synonyms of bespoke

Adjective

• tailored
• custom
• customized

Examples of bespoke in a Sentence

Adjective

a wealthy man who can easily afford bespoke suits

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Every stay is bespoke, but the latter include a one-hour consultation with the resident Ayurvedic doctor in order to prescribe an itinerary comprising daily spa, fitness and rituals. — Kathryn Romeyn, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026

This is currently impossible—bespoke military platforms are, by design, incompatible with the broader commercial industrial base. — Dan Driscoll, Foreign Affairs, 28 Sep. 2026

An assembly-line approach Conventional nuclear plants require massive, bespoke civil engineering works constructed entirely on site. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026

Lucaj also envisions the store as a connection between New York and Paris café culture, and has partnered with nearby La Perle, commissioning a custom mural and creating a bespoke coffee experience as part of integrating into the neighborhood. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

past participle of bespeak

First Known Use

Adjective

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for bespoke

• awoke
• baroque
• colloque
• convoke
• evoke
• invoke
• keystroke
• kinfolk
• kinsfolk
• menfolk
• provoke
• revoke

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!