defilé

Défilé is a French term used to describe a formal procession or march where participants move past an audience in a prescribed order. The word is applied to a range of settings, from military and ceremonial displays to artistic and cultural presentations, and is also the standard French term for a fashion show.

Etymology and usage. Défilé derives from the verb défiles, from dé- plus filer, meaning to thread or to pass in a line. In French, the noun défilé covers both the orderly movement of troops or crowds and the staged presentation of a collection or performance. The sense emphasizes sequence, order, and visibility before an observer.

Military and ceremonial contexts. In military and state ceremonies, a défilé is a parade in which troops, vehicles, and sometimes aircraft pass in formation before a reviewing authority or public audience. Such events highlight discipline, coordination, and national or institutional symbolism, and may occur on national holidays, state occasions, or commemorations.

Fashion and cultural contexts. In fashion, un défilé de mode refers to a runway show in which designers present collections to an audience of buyers, media, and fashion professionals. Models walk along a runway, accompanied by music, lighting, and staging that reflect the collection’s theme. Haute couture, ready-to-wear, and fashion weeks in major cities all organize défilés as central events.

Notes. Défilé can also describe ceremonial processions of other kinds, including pageants or organized processional displays. The term is distinct in French from English uses of “defile,” which may have different meanings.