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

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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

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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

See Examples For:

corduroy corduroys

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

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

He also called the corduroy short-shorts “the best vibe.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 15, 2023

Hungry Joe was irate and inconsolable until—of all people!—the chaplain was led in wearing a maroon corduroy bathrobe, shining like a skinny lighthouse with a radiant grin of self-satisfaction too tremendous to be concealed.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

Vicuña looked out of place on the Grand Canal: homespun and spirited, in faded brown corduroys, pink leg warmers and a long black and silver braid tied off with red thread.

From New York Times ● Aug. 25, 2022

A similar remark was made when Jeffries evaluated a pair of women corduroys which he deemed were too masculine.

From Salon ● Apr. 20, 2022

Sepia, the reddish brown hue associated with the monochrome images of early cinema, was evoked in printed baggy corduroys and an emerald green leather jacket evoked the start of technicolor.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 21, 2022

Many boys and girls had matching bowl haircuts and similar outfits: striped T-shirts, corduroys, Keds.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 30, 2021

She wears brown corduroys and a Harry Potter T-shirt.

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

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