Logo
dictionary thesaurus

cosplay

noun
cos·​play | \ ˈkäz-ˌplā How to pronounce cosplay (audio) , ˈkäs-\

Definition of cosplay

: the activity or practice of dressing up as a character from a work of fiction (such as a comic book, video game, or television show) Sometimes people are miscast in life. They may appear to be dentists or clerks, but deep down they are actually fierce swordsmen or goddesses with devastating sex appeal. These true selves can emerge in the world of cosplay, the practice of impersonating characters from anime, manga, Japanese video games, and other realms of fiction. — Mother Jones, November/December 2007 —often used before another noun cosplay costumes

Other Words from cosplay

cosplay verb, transitive + intransitive cosplayed; cosplaying; cosplays
At the orchestra's video game performance in 2013, some people cosplayed their favorite characters. — Stephanie Hayes, Tampa Bay Times, 17 Apr. 2014 Fans return to this convention year after year, celebrating Japanese visual culture and happily cosplaying as anime characters they care about. — Corbie Hill, News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), 22 May 2014
cosplayer noun, plural cosplayers
A convention such as this wouldn't be complete without cosplayers out in full force. … Characters from Disney, DC, Marvel, video games and even childhood favorites like Transformers and Power Rangers inspired the masses to dress up. — Scott Fishman, Miami Herald, 6 June 2014
cosplaying noun
For the uninitiated, the typical anime convention is a carnival of delights for any fan of Japanese animation and comics. Aside from the costumed attendees, taking part in an activity known as cosplaying, there are also anime screenings, panel discussions … — Jason S. Yadao, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 21 Apr. 2005

First Known Use of cosplay

1993, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for cosplay

cos(tume) + play entry 1, after Japanese kosupure, short for kosuchūmupurē, borrowed from English costume + (role) play

Note: The Japanese word was allegedly introduced in print by publisher and media producer Noboyuki Takahashi in the June, 1983 issue of the magazine Mai Anime/My Anime (see Brian Ashcraft and Luke Plunkett, Cosplay World [Prestel, 2014], pp. 18-20; the authors quote from an interview with Takahashi and reproduce pages from the magazine).

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

Yankee

play

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!