A getup is an outfit or costume, especially one that's unusual, fancy, or attention-grabbing. If your friend shows up to school wearing a cowboy hat, boots, and a sheriff's badge, you might ask, “What's with the getup?” When actors wear elaborate costumes for a play, those are their getups. Someone dressed as a pirate for Halloween is wearing a pirate getup.

The word often suggests something more dramatic than everyday clothes. You wouldn't usually call jeans and a T-shirt a getup, but you might describe someone's ridiculous getup if they're wearing mismatched patterns, clashing colors, and several strange accessories all at once. A fancy getup might include a top hat and tails, while a silly getup might involve oversized shoes and a fake mustache.

The word can also mean energy and determination, though this meaning is less common today. If someone has getup, they have ambition and drive to accomplish things. This older meaning reflects the idea of “getting up” and taking action rather than sitting around.