lingerie
Americannoun
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underwear, sleepwear, and other items of intimate apparel worn by women.
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Archaic. linen goods in general.
adjective
noun
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women's underwear and nightwear
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archaic linen goods collectively
Etymology
Origin of lingerie
First recorded in 1825–35; from French, from Middle French linge “linen” (from Latin līneus “flaxen”; see line 1) + -erie -ery
Explanation
Ladies wear lingerie as undergarments or sleepwear. When you go the department store, instead of asking, “Where do you keep the underpants?” you could say, “Will you please direct me to the lingerie department?” The noun lingerie, pronounced "lahn-zhuh-RAY" by most Americans, comes from the French word lingerie, which means “things made of linen.” In English, lingerie has a bit of a racy connotation, because if you use this word instead of the more common underwear, you are probably talking about silk and lace — fancy underthings that aren't meant for everyday wear.
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.
She is a billionaire because of her stakes in Fenty Beauty, estimated at $690 million, and her lingerie brand, estimated at $300 million, The Wall Street Journal reported last month.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026
Tyra Banks, who retired from the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway in 2005, closes out the rebranded lingerie show, which returned after a six-year break.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2026
Victoria’s Secret Chief Executive Hillary Super took over last fall after stints at lingerie competitor Savage X Fenty and apparel retailer Anthropologie.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 4, 2025
During that time, Rihanna has launched multiple businesses, including her popular makeup range Fenty Beauty and a lingerie company.
From BBC • Sep. 24, 2025
How do I explain that the underwear, lingerie, and key are my sister’s?
From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez
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.
