chiffon

UK: /ˈʃɪfɒn/ US: /ʃɪˈfɑn/ ,(shi fon′, shif′on)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

chif•fon /ʃɪˈfɑn/   n. [uncountable]

1. Textiles a soft, thin fabric of silk, nylon, or rayon.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

chif•fon  (shi fon′, shif′on), n. 

1. Textiles a sheer fabric of silk, nylon, or rayon in plain weave.
2. Clothing any women's dress ornament, as ribbon or lace.

adj. 

3. Clothing (of dresses, scarves, etc.) resembling or made of chiffon.
4. Food (in cooking) having a light, frothy texture, as certain pies and cakes containing beaten egg whites.

• Arabic shiff sheer fabric) + -on noun, nominal suffix
• French, equivalent. to chiffe rag (
• 1755–65

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

chiffon / ʃɪˈfɒn ˈʃɪfɒn/ noun

1. a fine transparent or almost transparent plain-weave fabric of silk, nylon, etc
2. (often plural) feminine finery

adjective

1. made of chiffon
2. (of soufflés, pies, cakes, etc) having a very light fluffy texture

Etymology: 18th Century: from French, from chiffe rag; probably related to chip