First recorded in 1865–70; named after J. T. Brudnell, 7th Earl of Cardigan (1797–1868), British cavalryman of Crimean War fame
A cardigan is a sweater that opens in front. Your favorite cardigan might have pearl buttons and pockets. Unlike a sweater that you pull on over your head, a cardigan is shrugged on over the shoulders and buttons, zips, or snaps up the front — or is worn open, with no fasteners at all. During the Crimean War in the 1800s, English general James Thomas Brudenell's troops wore jackets that opened in front, and since he was the 7th Earl of Cardigan, these garments — and future open-front sweaters — were known as cardigans.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Dressed in thrift-store finds, a flowy dress with a half-buttoned cardigan, Blevins packs a hipster style that’s chic without playing the fashion game.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026
The model riffs on Bessette’s minimalist look, wearing red lipstick, a simple gray cardigan and black pants.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
Jade's outfits, which included a £430 Hope Macaulay cardigan and a cherry-patterned cardigan from House of Sunny, made her look "quite young and innocent" and like "someone you wouldn't want to hurt", says Mair.
From BBC • Jan. 24, 2026
Sims, wearing a gray cardigan and a large hair clip, told AFP she had particularly wanted Trump to deliver on his promises to address affordability issues.
From Barron's • Jan. 16, 2026
She thinks of the cream-colored cardigan bought with her grandmother in mind, sitting in a shopping bag in the closet.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
