chino
noun
a tough, twilled cotton cloth used for uniforms, sports clothes, etc.
chino
1 American
[chee-noh]
/ ˈtʃi noʊ /
noun
-
chinos
plural
-
a tough, twilled cotton cloth used for uniforms, sports clothes, etc.
-
Usually chinos trousers made of this material.
adjective
chino
2
American
[chee-noh]
/ ˈtʃi noʊ /
noun
Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive.
-
chinos
plural
Chino
3
American
[chee-noh]
/ ˈtʃi noʊ /
noun
Chino-
4
American
Chino-
1
British
combining form
chino
2
British
/ ˈtʃiːnəʊ /
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of chino1
An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; of uncertain origin
Origin of chino2
From Mexican Spanish; further etymology disputed
Vocabulary lists containing chino
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:
The Spanish also began importing papel chino — thin, tissue-like paper from China, often used to wrap other goods.
From New York Times ● Apr. 11, 2024
Thus, exaggeratedly oversize berets mixed with clashing-color prints on silk, standout loose wool coats in maize, printed silk neck scarves, chunky sheeny leather loafers, and high-waisted chino pants.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 23, 2022
Theory’s focus is on men’s pants, for now, with plans for more colors this summer and emphasis on a chino model.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 11, 2016
Guardian contributor SlayerBand 30 November 2015 6:46pm K: What's a chino?
From The Guardian ● Nov. 30, 2015
He wore a plaid button-down shirt with chino shorts, and I thought about how long it had been since he’d worn clothes that could not be classified as either pajamas or underwear.
From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen
Saturday on the 5600 block of D Street in Chino and engulfed a second car in flames, according to a police department news release.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026
Shaw heads the elected Board of Education for Chino Valley Unified in San Bernardino County, a diverse but substantially conservative inland portion of Southern California.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026
Now the question is whether LaVar Ball, the father of the Ball brothers who Baik worked with at Chino Hills in sometimes much-publicized ways, will make an appearance in the Calabasas gym.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026
Orange Lutheran 17, Chino Hills 14: In a wild Division 1 playoff game, Sierra Nichols and Madelyn Armendariz each had four hits for Orange Lutheran, with Armendariz getting three doubles.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 17, 2026
Chino, he knows the law inside out, like a reversible coat.
From "Bodega Dreams" by Ernesto Quinonez
Stand out in a sea of stretchy polos and soulless chinos with attire that marries the look of nostalgic golf style with modern flourishes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026
He was last seen wearing a quilted green-brown Barbour jacket over a beige woollen jumper, with navy chinos and brown leather trainers with white soles.
From BBC ● Mar. 2, 2026
He wore his customary aviators, chinos and an untucked shirt.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 5, 2025
As the crowd sipped cocktails in booths, Hilfiger stuck to what he knows on models walking through: rugby shirts, blazers, chinos and varsity jackets in corduroy and herringbone.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 9, 2024
He was wearing “date night” clothes: chinos and a tucked-in Ralph Lauren button-down.
From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan
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.
