noun
-
(often plural) an article of clothing
-
outer covering
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of garment
1300–50; Middle English garnement < Old French garniment, equivalent to garni ( r ) to garnish + -ment -ment
Explanation
A garment is a piece of clothing. The area of New York City where clothes are manufactured is known as the Garment District. Derived from the French word for "equipment," garment is a somewhat generic term you can use when the specific kind of clothing you're describing is not the point. A dress, for example, is a dress, and pants are pants. They are not the same thing, unless you refer to them both as garments, in which case they are the same thing.
Vocabulary lists containing garment
100 SAT Words Beginning with "G"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Drama
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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 paper found that emissions associated with making a t-shirt could fall by roughly 45% when a robot produced the garment in Europe or the US.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
One key benefit of automating garment manufacturing, however, is that it could drastically reduce the environmental impact of this industry.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
The garment was also the centerpiece of ads for the collection and showcased the fashion potential of Christian figures.
From Salon • May 17, 2026
People’s sizes can shift over a period of months, making a garment a poor fit.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026
The door opening, Thorn and Thimble entering with a garment bag—and then leaving.
From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega
![]()
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.