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.
Founded in Bologna in 1954 by an Italian corsetry maker named Ada Masotti, La Perla’s lingerie became high fashion.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026
The bulk of Rihanna’s $1 billion net worth comes from her stakes in Fenty Beauty, estimated at $690 million, and her lingerie brand, estimated at $300 million, according to Altrata.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026
Tyra Banks, who retired from the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway in 2005, closes out the rebranded lingerie show, which returned after a six-year break.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2026
Boxes and bags with items to be sorted designate a clear walking path, and the extra bedrooms are deemed the lingerie section, which dates back to the Victorian era.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 9, 2025
So, I moonlighted as a concierge at the Marriott Hotel and sold lingerie at Nordstrom.
From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers
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.
