A gown is a long, flowing dress or robe worn for special occasions. When a bride walks down the aisle in her wedding gown, or when graduates wear caps and gowns at their ceremony, they're dressed in formal garments that can reach to the floor.

Doctors and surgeons wear surgical gowns in operating rooms to stay sterile and protect patients from infection. Judges wear black judicial gowns in court to show their official role. In medieval times, scholars wore distinctive gowns at universities, a tradition that survives today in graduation ceremonies. The word gown suggests something more ceremonial than everyday clothing.

You might also hear about an evening gown, which is an elegant dress for fancy events like galas or award shows. When someone puts on a gown, they're marking an occasion as significant: a wedding, a graduation, a formal dinner, or a moment that deserves to be remembered.