cosplay

/ˈkɑzpleɪ/

/ˈkɒzpleɪ/

Other forms: cosplaying; cosplays; cosplayed

The hobby of dressing up like your favorite fictional character is cosplay. Your city's annual science fiction convention is a perfect opportunity for cosplay.

Cosplay was coined in Japan in 1984 as a portmanteau of costume and play, or roleplay — and that's exactly what cosplay is. Rather than simply dressing up, cosplay involves performing a character. Attend a Comic Con and you'll see a wide variety of cosplay: characters from TV and anime, video games, Marvel movies, Star Wars and Dr. Who. If you've always wanted to be General Okoye from Black Panther, cosplay makes it possible!

Definitions of cosplay

1. noun

   the act or practice of dressing up as a fictional character from a video game, comic book, show, or movie
2. adjective

   of or relating to dressing up as a fictional character from a video game, comic book, show, or movie
3. verb

   dress up as a fictional character from a video game, comic book, show, or movie