1. A skirt stiffened by hoops (circular bands of flexible material) sewn into the fabric to create a full, bell-shaped silhouette.
Usage: Plural form of hoopskirt; Primarily historical; associated with 19th-century fashion

Examples

• Victorian women wore hoopskirts that required careful maneuvering through doorways.
• The museum's costume collection included several elaborate hoopskirts from the 1850s.
• Hoopskirts created a dramatic silhouette that was fashionable during the Civil War era.
• She struggled to sit down in the carriage while wearing one of those restrictive hoopskirts.
• Historical reenactors often wear authentic hoopskirts to accurately portray 19th-century dress.