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• jersey
  jersey

  noun

  a close-fitting, knitted sweater or shirt.
• Jersey
  Jersey

  noun

  a British island in the English Channel: the largest of the Channel Islands. 44 sq. mi. (116 sq. km). St. Helier.

jersey

¹ American  

[jur-zee] / ˈdʒɜr zi /

noun

jerseys plural

1. a close-fitting, knitted sweater or shirt.

2. a plain-knit, machine-made fabric of wool, silk, nylon, rayon, etc., characteristically soft and elastic, used for garments.

3. (initial capital letter) one of a breed of dairy cattle, raised originally on the island of Jersey, producing milk with a high butterfat content.

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Jersey ² American  

[jur-zee] / ˈdʒɜr zi /

noun

1. a British island in the English Channel: the largest of the Channel Islands. 44 sq. mi. (116 sq. km). St. Helier.

2. Informal. New Jersey.

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jersey ¹ British  

/ ˈdʒɜːzɪ /

noun

1. a knitted garment covering the upper part of the body

2. 1. a machine-knitted slightly elastic cloth of wool, silk, nylon, etc, used for clothing

   2. ( as modifier )

      a jersey suit

3. a football shirt

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Jersey ² British  

/ ˈdʒɜːzɪ /

noun

1. an island in the English Channel, the largest of the Channel Islands: forms, with two other islands, the bailiwick of Jersey; colonized from Normandy in the 11th century and still officially French-speaking; noted for finance, market gardening, dairy farming, and tourism. Capital: St Helier. Pop: 95 732 (2013 est). Area: 116 sq km (45 sq miles)

2. a breed of dairy cattle producing milk with a high butterfat content, originating from the island of Jersey

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Other Word Forms

• Jerseyan
  noun
• Jerseyite
  noun
• jerseyed
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of jersey

First recorded in 1575–85; after Jersey

Explanation

Jersey is the soft, stretchy fabric that is most often used to make T-shirts. Because they're usually made from this fabric, the tunic shirts that athletes wear are also called jerseys. Jersey is made from knitted cotton, wool, or synthetic material, and it's used for a lot of commercial clothing — everything from polo shirts to fancy dresses. The name comes from Jersey, a region of what's now the British Isles where jersey was first developed. The word was first used for athletic shirts in the 1840s.

Example Sentences

Behind a powerful yet athletic pack, player of the tournament Louis Bielle-Biarrey's ability to conjure magic out of nowhere translates as well from the French jersey to his club colours.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

Arsenal pounded the ball into the penalty area, ran a complex scheme of blocks, jersey pulls, and dummy runs, and invariably, someone tall would pop up to head the ball in.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

Her Mother’s Day gift since the 49ers are her favorite team is a vintage Jerry Rice jersey and a trip to Santa Anita.

From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2026

Watching the game in my retro jersey, booking flights to Budapest.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

I peeled off the sweaty Team Meili jersey, acutely aware that all my soccer/non-American football stuff had come from Sohrab, whether bought or borrowed.

From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram

Related Words

• blouse
• pullover
• tunic
• turtleneck