denim
Americannoun
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a heavy, Z-twist, twill cotton for jeans, overalls, and other work and leisure garments.
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a similar fabric of finer quality, for covering cushions, furniture, etc.
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(used with a plural verb) denims, a garment, especially trousers or overalls, made of denim.
noun
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a hard-wearing twill-weave cotton fabric used for trousers, work clothes, etc
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( as modifier )
a denim jacket
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a similar lighter fabric used in upholstery
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( as modifier )
denim cushion covers
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Etymology
Origin of denim
1685–95; < French: short for serge de Nîmes serge of Nîmes
Explanation
Denim is a kind of heavy cotton material that's used to make jeans. Denim is usually dark blue, and mostly used to make durable work wear, like jeans and overalls. In some places, people call blue jeans denims. The word comes from a French phrase serge de Nîmes, "serge from Nîmes, France." "Serge" is a sturdy twill fabric, and Nîmes is a town where it was famously made. Denim was first used in American English around 1850.
Vocabulary lists containing denim
Blue
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Fabulous Fabrics
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for July 13–July 19, 2024
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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.
Denim jeans are traditionally workwear, meant to stand up to the repetitive stresses of laboring without tearing easily.
From Salon • Aug. 20, 2025
Denim giant Levi's said in 2023 it would trial the use of AI-generated model images as a way to "increase diversity".
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2025
It’s been covered by artists from the worlds of R&B, country, rock, bluegrass and pop: Etta James, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, Suzy Bogguss, Blue Denim, Cher, Ruby Turner and Miley Cyrus, among many.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 28, 2023
Denim Dawson answered with a layup and Jamarques Lawrence followed with a 3-pointer to make it 52-49 a minute later and the Cornhuskers led the rest of the way.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 18, 2023
Grandma says, “Is this about the Denim Show, Shayleen? Another shopping channel event? Drum already said no to that, sweetie.”
From "The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle" by Leslie Connor
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.
