cardigan
noun
a usually collarless knitted sweater or jacket that opens down the front.
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cardigan
1 American
[kahr-di-guhn]
/ ˈkɑr dɪ gən /
noun
-
cardigans
plural
Cardigan
2
American
[kahr-di-guhn]
/ ˈkɑr dɪ gən /
Cardigan
1
British
/ ˈkɑːdɪɡən /
noun
Cardigan
2
British
/ ˈkɑːdɪɡən /
noun
cardigan
3
British
/ ˈkɑːdɪɡən /
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of cardigan
First recorded in 1865–70; named after J. T. Brudnell, 7th Earl of Cardigan (1797–1868), British cavalryman of Crimean War fame
Explanation
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.
Vocabulary lists containing cardigan
You Name It: Eponyms
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The BFG
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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:
Nothing says “I’m building my brand” like a signature scent from Loewe or a standout patchwork cardigan from indie-darling brand Hades.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026
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
Wednesday's Instagram post showed a picture of Van Der Beek wearing a white top and cardigan.
From Barron's ● Feb. 11, 2026
Traitor Rachel opted for bright coloured knitwear in the final episode of the series too, wearing a £350 pink and red cardigan, also from Hope Macaulay.
From BBC ● Jan. 24, 2026
A cardigan is draped over the back of the chair.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
"She couldn't remember where she grew up, near Cardigan, where she went to school, teachers, it was heartbreaking," Nic said.
From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026
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
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
The incident, which has been described as an "incredibly rare encounter", could be seen from the shore of Cardigan Bay, Ceredigion.
From BBC ● Apr. 18, 2025
So, in another year or two, would the "Montgomery," the "Cardigan," Ham-and-Egg Terrace.
From Mushroom Town by Oliver Onions
Tonight’s book club is Eastern European-themed, prompting the women to wear red cardigans and dresses.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2026
It is not uncommon for employees to bring in cardigans or sweaters to wear in office hours because temperatures are maintained at such low levels.
From BBC ● Apr. 9, 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
That compares to a 7.6% increase in 2022, Deloitte said, when high inflation drove up prices for everything from Christmas cardigans and toys to home appliances.
From Reuters ● Sep. 13, 2023
Five dutiful Aircraft women First Class straightened their Air Force blue cardigans.
From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein
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.
