🤵♂️
Man in Tuxedo
man in tuh-SEE-doh
Definitions
1
People · Formal
Common
A man wearing a formal black tuxedo suit, typically for weddings, galas, or formal events. Represents elegance, celebration, and special occasions.
Used to indicate formal events, weddings, or to suggest dressing up. Often used by men to signal they're attending a formal function.
Finally found my wedding suit! Going to look like this on the big day 🤵♂️
Personal message
Dinner at the Ritz tonight 🤵♂️ Time to dust off the tux!
Social media post
The tuxedo is a Western formal wear tradition dating to the 19th century. This emoji often represents significant life events, particularly weddings.
2
People · Profession
Uncommon
Represents service professionals who wear formal attire, such as waiters, butlers, or chauffeurs in high-end establishments.
Used to indicate luxury service, fine dining, or professional hospitality contexts.
The 🤵♂️ at that restaurant treated us like royalty!
Restaurant review
The association with service roles reflects class distinctions in formal settings where staff wear formal attire similar to guests.
Evolution Timeline
2016
Introduced as a gender-neutral 'person in tuxedo' emoji in Unicode 9.0.
Growing demand for formal occasion representation in emoji sets.
2020
Updated with gender specification as 'man in tuxedo' with the introduction of 'woman in tuxedo' emoji.
Movement toward gender inclusivity in formal wear representation.
Cultural Context
The tuxedo originated in the 1860s as less formal alternative to tailcoats. Named after Tuxedo Park, NY, where American elites popularized the style.
The tuxedo represents social status and access to formal spaces, signifying class distinctions that persist in modern formal events.
While older generations view tuxedos as essential formal wear, younger people increasingly opt for alternative formal styles, reflected in evolving emoji usage.
In British English, this attire is called a 'dinner jacket' rather than 'tuxedo,' reflecting linguistic differences in formal wear terminology.
Regional Variations
United Kingdom
Often referred to as 'black tie' or 'dinner jacket' rather than tuxedo. Associated with formal balls and society events.
United States
Commonly associated with proms, weddings, and formal galas. Often paired with 👰 in wedding contexts.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Used practically to indicate formal events and celebrations. Less likely to use in ironic contexts than younger generations.
Gen_Z: Often used ironically or for contrast with casual situations. Frequently appears in prom contexts and formal event posts on TikTok and Instagram.
Older: Limited usage, primarily for actual formal events. Often used literally rather than figuratively or humorously.
Millennials: Commonly used for wedding content, job interviews, and formal events. Popular in dating app contexts to show sophistication.
Common Combinations
🤵♂️👰
Wedding couple or marriage, specifically the groom and bride.
Traditional Western wedding imagery, representing marriage ceremonies and celebrations.
🤵♂️🤵♂️
Same-sex male wedding or partnership.
Represents LGBTQ+ weddings and partnerships in formal settings.
🤵♂️🥂
Formal celebration or toast at an elegant event.
Used for galas, awards ceremonies, or other black-tie occasions.
🤵♂️💼
Professional formal business attire or high-status business event.
Represents corporate formal events or high-level business meetings.