Cosplayers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A term for individuals who dress up in costumes to represent characters from various media, such as films, video games, and comics
2. Often participating in conventions and fan events, they blend creativity with performance art
3. These enthusiasts engage in role-playing and showcase their craftsmanship by making or customizing their outfits

Etymology: "Cosplayers" is the plural of "cosplayer," a term that came into English from Japanese, where it was written コスプレイヤー and pronounced "kosupureiyā." The Japanese word is itself a blend of two English elements: "costume" shortened to "cos," joined to "player." Japanese speakers took those English pieces and assembled them into a new word, so the English term that readers meet today is a borrowing of an English-derived coinage rather than an older English word. The first half, "cos," comes from the clipped form of "costume," while "play" in "player" carries its sense of performing a role, as in acting on stage. Put together, the word describes someone who plays a character by wearing the character's costume. The form "cosplay" is itself a compound, and "-er" is the familiar English suffix that turns an activity into the person who does it.

Synonyms: costume players, role-players, dressers, performers, enthusiasts