cardigan

¹ American  

[kahr-di-guhn] / ˈkɑr dɪ gən /

noun

1. a usually collarless knitted sweater or jacket that opens down the front.

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Cardigan ² American  

[kahr-di-guhn] / ˈkɑr dɪ gən /

noun

1. Cardiganshire.

2. one of a variety of Welsh corgi having a long tail.

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Cardigan ¹ British  

/ ˈkɑːdɪɡən /

noun

1. the larger variety of corgi, having a long tail

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Cardigan ² British  

/ ˈkɑːdɪɡən /

noun

1. 7th Earl of, title of James Thomas Brudenell. 1797–1868, British cavalry officer. He led the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava (1854) during the Crimean War.

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cardigan ³ British  

/ ˈkɑːdɪɡən /

noun

1. a knitted jacket or sweater with buttons up the front

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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

Example Sentences

Wednesday's Instagram post showed a picture of Van Der Beek wearing a white top and cardigan.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

That anxiety fits Philadelphia like a cozy wool cardigan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 12, 2026

Other highlights from the show included Ross's leopard cardigan, which Balding likened to a "Flintstones outfit".

From BBC • Oct. 16, 2025

In his first televised fireside chat, he wore a cardigan sweater and encouraged Americans to conserve energy during the winter by keeping their thermostats at 65 degrees in the daytime and 55 degrees at night.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2024

I imagined that I was dressed in a green cardigan and wingtips.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer