Synonyms

boxer shorts

American

noun

(used with a plural verb)

men's loose-fitting undershorts with an elastic waistband.

boxer shorts British

plural noun

Also called: boxers. men's underpants shaped like shorts but having a front opening

"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 boxer shorts

First recorded in 1945–50

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.

As it turns out, the two-time Wimbledon champion was woefully ill-prepared – completing the ride in tennis shoes and boxer shorts.

From BBC • Dec. 18, 2025

It bought a gold mine, started offering in-theater perks to retail investors, and saw its CEO appear on a publicly streamed call in his boxer shorts.

From Slate • May 13, 2024

Boxers had grown increasingly popular after World War II, as men who served in the military adjusted to the standard-issue boxer shorts.

From National Geographic • Jan. 9, 2024

Madonna described how Seymour was in a hospital bed wearing boxer shorts and a tank top when they met.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2023

Katz led the way, barefoot and in boxer shorts, using a long stick like a punting pole to try to pick his way across on a jumble of submerged or half submerged logs.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023