brassiere

American  

[bruh-zeer] / brəˈzɪər /

Or brassière

noun

1. a woman's undergarment for supporting the breasts.

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brassiere British  

/ ˈbræsɪə, ˈbræz- /

noun

1. Often shortened to: bra.  a woman's undergarment for covering and supporting the breasts

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Etymology

Origin of brassiere

1910–15; < French brassière bodice worn as an undergarment to support the breasts (now obsolete in this sense), Middle French bracieres camisole, Old French: armor for the arms, equivalent to bras arm ( brace ) + -ière, suffix added to body part nouns, the resultant derivative denoting an article for that part < Latin -āria -ary

Example Sentences

“The odd couple,” he barks, lifting up a brassiere fashioned so that one cup is larger than the other.

From New York Times

“So girls started wearing corsets, girdles and brassieres over their clothes, and this then led to the trend for underwear as outerwear.”

From New York Times

In a recent Instagram post, she told her 13.6 million followers that she’s been eating her stress lately and needed a “brassiere thing” to fit into her pants.

From New York Times

Only when DNA technology advanced to the point where a complete genetic profile could be developed from evidence gleaned from the girl’s brassiere could a solid link be made, Detective Leah Wagner said.

From Seattle Times

It had a diverse mix of bargain stores that sold, among other things, hosiery, fabrics, brassieres, hats and pickles in a barrel.

From New York Times