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cardigan

1 American  
[kahr-di-guhn] / ˈkɑr dɪ gən /

noun

  1. a usually collarless knitted sweater or jacket that opens down the front.

Cardigan 2 American  
[kahr-di-guhn] / ˈkɑr dɪ gən /

noun

  1. Cardiganshire.

  2. one of a variety of Welsh corgi having a long tail.

Cardigan 1 British  
/ ˈkɑːdɪɡən /

noun

  1. the larger variety of corgi, having a long tail

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cardigan 2 British  
/ ˈkɑːdɪɡən /

noun

  1. 7th Earl of, title of James Thomas Brudenell. 1797–1868, British cavalry officer. He led the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava (1854) during the Crimean War.

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
cardigan 3 British  
/ ˈkɑːdɪɡən /

noun

  1. a knitted jacket or sweater with buttons up the front

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of cardigan

First recorded in 1865–70; named after J. T. Brudnell, 7th Earl of Cardigan (1797–1868), British cavalryman of Crimean War fame

Explanation

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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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.

Wearing a pink dress and an oversize pink cardigan, Kaley G.M. told the jury that she started watching YouTube videos at age 6 and made an Instagram account at age 9.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 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

Other highlights from the show included Ross's leopard cardigan, which Balding likened to a "Flintstones outfit".

From BBC • Oct. 16, 2025

In true rom-com fashion, the longtime Swiftie wore a Lover cardigan.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 5, 2025

I pull it on quickly and grab a cardigan to throw over it.

From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli

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.