jams
noun
jams
1 American
[jamz]
/ dʒæmz /
noun
(used with a plural verb)
Jams
2
American
[jamz]
/ dʒæmz /
Trademark.
Usage
What does jams mean? Jams is a very informal word for pajamas—the clothes you wear to sleep in. The word jammies means the same thing but is more common. Terms like jammies, jams, and jam-jams are typically used by children, adults speaking to children, or people using childish words to be silly. A more common synonym for pajamas is p.j.’s, which is informal but not as informal as jammies. You could say that whatever clothes children change into before going to bed are their jams. Traditionally, though, the word refers to clothes that were specifically made and sold for sleeping in, typically consisting of soft, loose-fitting pants or shorts and a (sometimes matching) top. When adults use the words jams or jammies to refer to what they’re wearing, it’s usually to refer to clothes worn for sleeping, but not always. People sometimes use such terms to refer to the clothes they wear to lounge in, especially before bed, though the terms p.j.’s and pajamas are more likely to be used this way. In all cases, the word jams is used very informally. The word jams is also the plural of the noun jam or a present-tense version of the verb jam, both of which have many meanings. Example: OK, kids, time for bed—go brush your teeth and change into your dinosaur jams.
Etymology
Origin of jams
First recorded in 1965–70; by shortening
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.
See Examples For:
That’s where she became the first woman to host “The Original Quiet Storm,” a program of “soulful slow jams and romantic melodies” that recently celebrated 50 years of being on air.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
Lagos, one of Africa's largest and busiest cities, is infamous for its long traffic jams that cause gridlock and hamper business activity.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
The attacks have caused massive delays to train services around the country and traffic jams in Kyiv as the citizens have had to flee to shelters throughout the day.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026
There were also traffic jams of cars trying to leave Fourka and Siviri.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
All over America today people would be dragging themselves to work, stuck in traffic jams, wreathed in exhaust smoke.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
His video “Pro Musician Jams With Street Performer on Subway” notates a saxophonist on the London Underground as he spontaneously engages a guitarist in a version of Big Joe Turner’s “Shake, Rattle and Roll.”
From New York Times ● Mar. 12, 2024
Detroit proto-punks The MC5 wanted to capture the energy of their electric live shows on Kick Out the Jams.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2023
Jams, jellies and honeys make perfect pairings for much of what’s on offer.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 18, 2023
Mills, a Joni Jams regular known for his work with acts like Fiona Apple and Alabama Shakes, said Mitchell’s progress in the private gigs at her house has been steady but incremental.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2022
Jams had a habit of forming there, and nearly always some sort of trouble occurred.
From The Boss of Wind River by A. M. (Arthur Murray) Chisholm
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
