corduroy

American  

[kawr-duh-roi, kawr-duh-roi] / ˈkɔr dəˌrɔɪ, ˌkɔr dəˈrɔɪ /

noun

corduroys plural

1. a cotton-filling pile fabric with lengthwise cords or ridges.

2. corduroys, trousers made of this fabric.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling corduroy.

2. constructed of logs laid together transversely, as a road across swampy ground.

verb (used with object)

1. to form (a road or the like) by laying logs transversely.

2. to make a corduroy road across or along.

corduroy British  

/ ˌkɔːdəˈrɔɪ, ˈkɔːdəˌrɔɪ /

noun

1. See also corduroys

   1. a heavy cotton pile fabric with lengthways ribs

   2. ( as modifier )

      a corduroy coat

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• corduroys
  plural

Etymology

Origin of corduroy

1780–90; perhaps cord ( cf. cords) + duroy, deroy (now obsolete) a woolen fabric originating in W England; later taken as French cord du roy the king's cords, though the fabric had no connection with France

Explanation

Corduroy is a thick fabric with ridges or ribs running along its length. You can use corduroy to make clothing or to upholster furniture. The fabric known as corduroy is most famously used to make the jean-style pants also known as corduroys. The pattern on a piece of corduroy is called a "cord," the ridges that distinguish corduroy from its close relative, velvet. Another kind of corduroy is an often temporary road that's laid with many logs in a row — corduroy roads have been used during wars to bridge swampy areas quickly.

Example Sentences

The Bedsure GentleSoft Ribbed Heated Blanket features a thick, wide-wale corduroy texture that adds visual interest and a pleasing hand feel.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

The rocker walked on stage alone, hunched over with his face obscured by a corduroy cap, to play a hushed acoustic version of the classic Sugar Mountain.

From BBC • Jun. 28, 2025

Kings Starter jacket, the ribbed corduroy from the house shoes her dad would buy at the swap meet, a quilted inside that draws from the iconographic element of a Chanel bag.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2024

While we wore Coogi sweaters and Boss jeans, Travis had corduroy trousers that stopped above his ankles and shirts with butterfly collars from the 70s, even though we were in the 90s.

From Salon • Dec. 18, 2023

She's got on a dark green sweater and some reddish corduroy pants.

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements