the fine, downy wool at the roots of the hair of the Kashmir goat.
a garment made of this wool.
a yarn made from this wool.
a wool or cashmere fabric of plain or twill weave.
a fine soft wool from goats of the Kashmir area
cloth or knitted material made from this or similar wool
( as modifier )
a cashmere sweater
First recorded in 1815–25; named after Cashmere
Cashmere is an extremely soft wool that comes from a particular kind of goat. The goat itself is also called a cashmere. When you knit a sweater from cashmere, you end up with a garment that's much softer and less itchy than regular wool. You can use the same word when you describe the fabric itself, and things made with it: "I want a red cashmere scarf for my birthday." In the 17th century, the word specifically meant "a cashmere shawl," from Kashmir, the region of the Himalayas where this type of goat originated.
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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.
Before long, we saw someone who looked identical, now dressed very smartly in jeans and what appeared to be a cashmere coat.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
The collection brings a feminine touch to tailored classics that the house is known for, with wool cashmere coats and wide-leg slouch pants.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2026
‘Humanize me a little,” says the petite woman in a cashmere sweater at the end of a forthright, occasionally spiky interview.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026
The exquisitely soft cashmere pieces in classic styles now come in over 20 shades inspired by Sergio Loro Piana’s personal wardrobe.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 3, 2026
In a giant, glassed-in shopping mall, he’d bought a dove-gray cashmere sweater that he wore under his suit jacket on chilly days.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
Goyol Cashmere received a $5 million loan from the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026
Founder and CEO Caitlin Braam deems the Negroni-ish Cashmere, a cranberry cider with dark cherry and bitter orange peel, a particularly good fit for the holidays: “It evokes this warm wintry feeling and vibe.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 25, 2025
I am constantly harping on the fact that L.A. has amazing, curated boutiques like Mohawk General Store, elevated brands like Ghiaia Cashmere blowing up the menswear scene.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2024
Bartell also put special emphasis on locally made products, such as Almond Roca from Tacoma-based Brown & Haley; Aplets & Cotlets from Liberty Orchards in Cashmere; and Theo Chocolate from Seattle.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 15, 2023
Brutus is within shooting distance and somewhere, certainly, Cashmere is nearby, too.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
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.
