Showing Results for "clothing"

See Also:

• present participle of clothe.

clothing

American  

[kloh-thing] / ˈkloʊ ðɪŋ /

noun

1. garments collectively; clothes; raiment; apparel.

2. a covering.

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clothing British  

/ ˈkləʊðɪŋ /

noun

1. garments collectively

2. something that covers or clothes

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clothing Idioms  

1. see wolf in sheep's clothing.

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Etymology

Origin of clothing

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English; clothe + -ing ¹

Compare meaning

How does clothing compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• clothes vs. clothing

Explanation

Clothing is what your wear, like sweaters, shirts, pants, dresses, and so on. Your favorite piece of clothing might be your purple polka dotted tights. Clothing is made of fabric and covers our bodies, keeps them warm or protects them from the sun, insects, sharp rocks and thorns, and other hazards. In some situations, clothing keeps people safe, as when medical workers wear scrubs, gloves, and masks to protect themselves and patients from infection. Often clothing reflects your personal values or religion, like a Muslim woman's hijab that covers her hair. The Old English root is claþ, "cloth or woven material."

Example Sentences

Clothing, as a result, sat on racks and stockroom shelves unsold.

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

"I'm more worried about China," said Tomi Mäkelä of Thailand's Lanna Clothing.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

At Qipu Road Wholesale Clothing Market, wholesalers send shipments of sweaters, dresses and pants to retail stores all over the country.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

The Machine Clothing business primarily supports the production of paper, paperboard, tissue, towel, and pulp, and engineered fabrics for non-paper industries.

From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026

Clothing manufacturers and leather production companies were called upon to meet the increased demand.

From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield