Jump To:

• jean
  jean

  noun

  Sometimes jeans a sturdy twilled fabric, usually of cotton.
• Jean
  Jean

  noun

  1921–2019, Grand Duke of Luxembourg 1964–2000.

jean

¹ American  

[jeen, jayn] / dʒin, dʒeɪn /

noun

1. Sometimes jeans a sturdy twilled fabric, usually of cotton.

2. (used with a plural verb) jeans,

   1. blue jeans.

   2. pants of various fabrics, styled or constructed like blue jeans.

---

Jean ² American  

[zhahn, jeen] / ʒɑ̃, dʒin /

noun

1. 1921–2019, Grand Duke of Luxembourg 1964–2000.

2. a male given name, form of John.

3. a female given name.

---

Jean ¹ British  

/ ʒɑ̃ /

noun

1. born 1921, full name Jean Benoît Guillaume Robert Antoine Louis Marie Adolphe Marc d'Aviano , grand duke of Luxembourg (1964–2000)

2. Michaelle. born 1957, in Haiti. Canadian stateswoman and broadcaster; governor-general from 2005

---

jean ² British  

/ dʒiːn /

noun

1. a tough twill-weave cotton fabric used for hard-wearing trousers, overalls, etc See also jeans

---

Usage

What does jean mean? The word jean refers to the kind of material used to make jeans, as in blue jeans—a type of pants. Jeans are traditionally made from denim, a kind of cotton fabric. Today, jeans are made from a variety of fabrics and fabric blends, but they’re still called jeans if they resemble denim blue jeans. In this way, the word jean isn’t commonly used as a name of a kind of material until after it’s been made into jeans. Jean is most commonly used as a modifier to describe garments that are made of denim or the kind of fabric that blue jeans are made of, as in jean shorts, jean jacket (also commonly called a denim jacket), and jean shirt. Example: I used to wear a jean jacket with a bunch of patches on it.

Other Word Forms

• jeaned
  adjective

---

Etymology

Origin of jean

1485–95; short for jean fustian, earlier Gene(s) fustian Genoese or Genoa fustian

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jean Jean

Levi’s direct-to-consumer sales missed company leaders’ expectations in the latest quarter after its back-to-school advertising focused on baggy jean styles while consumer attention turned to low-rise.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

In May of that year, Epstein emailed Todt to say "jean, sorry it was so short and Terje did not give me any notice in advance to help with the fun".

From BBC ● Feb. 4, 2026

“To come up with this type of pattern, it’s like a maniacal, mad scientist,” says the owner of Vintage on Hollywood, Brian Cohen, who now holds the jean jacket in his personal collection.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2025

Ultimately, someone named Cameron, who sported a jean jacket and scarf, received a cash prize of $50.

From Salon ● Nov. 25, 2024

Lying on top of the pile is a pink silk shirt, a blue jean jacket, and brown corduroy pants—all remnants of past lives to be destroyed.

From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung

The reason it comes out most with the national team is that those players have known each other for decades, St. Jean said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026

She served as lead attorney in the E. Jean Carroll case, during which the judge admonished her repeatedly for her poor legal skills.

From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2026

“We cannot allow this outbreak to spread to other countries or to continue for another year,” Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a statement Tuesday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

According to his children, Jean and Ken, he felt compelled to do something for the bereaved families who had lost their sons and daughters.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

Naomi rode in the back of Ben’s truck with Tommie, the twins, and Tommie’s cousins Katie and Jean.

From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---