पोशाक (poshaak)

noun A single, straightforward sense: an outfit or costume, usually the whole ensemble rather than one garment.
Sense 1 : outfit, dress, costume
noun, feminine
Synonyms: कपड़े (kapde, everyday, plural 'clothes'), लिबास (libaas, literary), वेशभूषा (veshbhooshaa, formal, used for costumes/attire in a formal or theatrical sense)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will hear पोशाक (poshaak) used for things like स्कूल की पोशाक (skool kii poshaak, 'school uniform') or राष्ट्रीय पोशाक (raashtriiy poshaak, 'national dress'), where the outfit has an identity or occasion attached to it -- it is less casual than just talking about someone's कपड़े (kapde) for the day.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use पोशाक (poshaak) interchangeably with कपड़े (kapde), but पोशाक (poshaak) usually means a complete, often notable or formal outfit (a school uniform, wedding dress, national costume), not just 'clothes' in general. 2) It is grammatically singular even when it describes an ensemble of multiple pieces, so it does not take the plural agreement that कपड़े (kapde) does.
Sample Sentences:
उसकी शादी की पोशाक बहुत सुंदर थी। Her wedding outfit was very beautiful.
(uskii shaadii kii poshaak bahut sundar thii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
बच्चों को स्कूल की पोशाक पहननी होती है। Children have to wear a school uniform.
(bachchon ko skool kii poshaak pahannii hotii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कृपया समारोह में राष्ट्रीय पोशाक पहनकर आइए। Please come to the ceremony wearing national dress.
(kripyaa samaaroh men raashtriiy poshaak pahankar aaie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
नाटक के लिए कलाकारों की पोशाकें तैयार की जा रही हैं। The performers' costumes for the play are being prepared.
(naatak ke lie kalaakaaron kii poshaaken taiyaar kii jaa rahii hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अगर मुझे पता होता तो मैं अपनी पारंपरिक पोशाक पहनकर आता। If I had known, I would have come wearing my traditional outfit.
(agar mujhe pataa hotaa to main apnii paaramprik poshaak pahankar aataa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
हर राज्य की अपनी अलग पोशाक होती है। Every state has its own distinct dress.
(har raajy kii apnii alag poshaak hotii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या तुमने अपनी पोशाक बदल ली है? Have you changed your outfit?
(kyaa tumne apnii poshaak badal lii hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
उम्मीद है कि आयोजक हर टीम को एक जैसी पोशाक दें। It's hoped that the organizers give the same outfit to every team.
(ummiid hai ki aayojak har tiim ko ek jaisii poshaak den।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
संग्रहालय में पुराने राजाओं की पोशाकें रखी गई हैं। The old kings' costumes have been kept in the museum.
(sangrahaalay men puraane raajaaon kii poshaaken rakhii gaii hain।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
जब वह मंच पर आई तो उसकी पोशाक सबका ध्यान खींच रही थी। When she came onto the stage, her outfit was drawing everyone's attention.
(jab vah manch par aaii to uskii poshaak sabkaa dhyaan khiinch rahii thii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): पोशाक (poshaak)
(sg.f.oblique): पोशाक (poshaak)
(pl.f.direct): पोशाकें (poshaaken)
(pl.f.oblique): पोशाकों (poshaakon)