lingerie
Americannoun
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underwear, sleepwear, and other items of intimate apparel worn by women.
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Archaic. linen goods in general.
adjective
noun
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women's underwear and nightwear
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archaic linen goods collectively
Etymology
Origin of lingerie
First recorded in 1825–35; from French, from Middle French linge “linen” (from Latin līneus “flaxen”; see line 1) + -erie -ery
Explanation
Ladies wear lingerie as undergarments or sleepwear. When you go the department store, instead of asking, “Where do you keep the underpants?” you could say, “Will you please direct me to the lingerie department?” The noun lingerie, pronounced "lahn-zhuh-RAY" by most Americans, comes from the French word lingerie, which means “things made of linen.” In English, lingerie has a bit of a racy connotation, because if you use this word instead of the more common underwear, you are probably talking about silk and lace — fancy underthings that aren't meant for everyday wear.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The lingerie retailer guided for second-quarter sales between $1.59 billion and $1.615 billion, above Wall Street’s $1.56 billion view.
From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026
“Kevin Juin solicited more than $2 million in purported loans to invest in a lingerie company, while funneling the money to personal accounts to fund a luxurious lifestyle,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026
Sweeney also has a pop-up bar promoting her lingerie line Syrn at the festival.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026
“I work in fashion, where vanity is very high,” said Auth, 33, a senior account manager for Wolford, a luxury lingerie and hosiery brand.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
How do I explain that the underwear, lingerie, and key are my sister’s?
From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez
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.
