boxer shorts

American

noun

(used with a plural verb)

men's loose-fitting undershorts with an elastic waistband.

boxer shorts British

plural noun

Also called: boxers. men's underpants shaped like shorts but having a front opening

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of boxer shorts

First recorded in 1945–50

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.

The suspect was found wearing nothing but his boxer shorts in the backyard of a home near Shriner's residence.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2025

It bought a gold mine, started offering in-theater perks to retail investors, and saw its CEO appear on a publicly streamed call in his boxer shorts.

From Slate • May 13, 2024

Boxers had grown increasingly popular after World War II, as men who served in the military adjusted to the standard-issue boxer shorts.

From National Geographic • Jan. 9, 2024

So a superficial Jack Lemmon vibe — except Jack Lemmon never twerked in boxer shorts.

From New York Times • Jul. 6, 2023

I took off my costume and slipped on some boxer shorts and a sweatshirt.

From "Winger" by Andrew Smith

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023