First recorded in 1865–70; named after J. T. Brudnell, 7th Earl of Cardigan (1797–1868), British cavalryman of Crimean War fame
A cardigan is a sweater that opens in front. Your favorite cardigan might have pearl buttons and pockets. Unlike a sweater that you pull on over your head, a cardigan is shrugged on over the shoulders and buttons, zips, or snaps up the front — or is worn open, with no fasteners at all. During the Crimean War in the 1800s, English general James Thomas Brudenell's troops wore jackets that opened in front, and since he was the 7th Earl of Cardigan, these garments — and future open-front sweaters — were known as cardigans.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Dressed in thrift-store finds, a flowy dress with a half-buttoned cardigan, Blevins packs a hipster style that’s chic without playing the fashion game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2026
Wearing a pink dress and an oversize pink cardigan, Kaley G.M. told the jury that she started watching YouTube videos at age 6 and made an Instagram account at age 9.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026
Wednesday's Instagram post showed a picture of Van Der Beek wearing a white top and cardigan.
From Barron's ● Feb. 11, 2026
When Harriet tried to bring down Rachel during a dramatic round table, she wore a red cardigan and a red scarf.
From BBC ● Jan. 24, 2026
I run my hand over the soft silks and cashmeres, and choose a pink blouse with red roses, and a grass-colored cardigan to go over it.
From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper
The second part honors David Rhys Jones, a schoolteacher at Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi in Cardigan, Wales, who taught the study's lead author.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 21, 2026
One of the women who contacted Tirion was Lorraine Beattie, who also said she was spiked while at a birthday drinks in a pub in Cardigan.
From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2026
At the highest end are boarding schools such as Cardigan Mountain, where repeating a grade for academic, emotional or other reasons has been common for decades.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 22, 2026
Rhys returned to Wales for his national tour playing Richard Burton in a one-man show that began on 17 November in Mwldan, Cardigan, and concludes in Pontrhydyfen.
From BBC ● Nov. 19, 2025
My aide-de-camp, Lord Dunmore," said Sir William, bluntly; "your Lordship will remember Captain Cardigan who died before Quebec?
From Cardigan by Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)
Tonight’s book club is Eastern European-themed, prompting the women to wear red cardigans and dresses.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2026
As well as Claudia Winkleman's extravagant gothic looks, some of the contestants' outfits on this year's series blew up online, from Jade's playful cardigans and Jessie's yellow colour palette to Stephen's jumpsuit and Harriet's scarves.
From BBC ● Jan. 24, 2026
Schur decided to drop her own line of cardigans, designed for the store by a local artisan and manufactured overseas, after tariffs doubled the price she would have had to charge to at least $160.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 6, 2025
In another box were donated cardigans, and packs of socks and underwear.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 20, 2023
We wear cotton dresses to school, and cardigans, which we take off walking home.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
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.
