pajamas

especially British, py·jam·as

[puh-jah-muhz, -jam-uhz]

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. clothing for wearing in bed, consisting of usually loose-fitting pants or shorts and matching top.

   my favorite pair of flannel pajamas.

2. any clothing worn for sleeping or lounging.

   The only pajamas I brought are a pair of boxers and a T-shirt.

3. a jumpsuit or two-piece outfit with loose-fitting bottoms.

   beach pajamas.

4. loose-fitting trousers, usually of silk or cotton, worn in parts of Asia.

pajamas

/ pəˈdʒɑːməz /

plural noun

1. the US spelling of pyjamas

Other Word Forms

• pajamaed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pajamas¹

First recorded in 1870–75; plural of pajama, from Hindi, variant of pāyjāma, from Persian pāy “leg” + jāma “garment”

When To Use

What does pajamas mean?

Pajamas are the clothes you wear to sleep in.The word is commonly and informally abbreviated as p.j.’s. It is typically spelled as pyjamas by speakers of British English.You could say that whatever clothes you change into before going to bed are your pajamas. Traditionally, though, pajamas are specifically made and sold as clothes for sleeping in, typically consisting of soft, loose-fitting pants or shorts and a (sometimes matching) top. However, there are many different types and styles, such as nightgowns.Clothes considered pajamas aren’t only worn for sleeping, though. For example, a person might drive to get a cup of coffee in the morning while still wearing their pajamas, or a college student might wake up and attend class in their pajamas. People also commonly use the terms p.j.’s and pajamas to refer to the clothes they wear to lounge in (also called loungewear), especially before bed (even if they then change into another set of pajamas to sleep in).Even more informal terms for pajamas are jammies, jams, and jam-jams. These are typically used by children, adults speaking to children, or people using childish words to be silly. The word sleepwear is sometimes used as a more formal synonym for pajamas, especially in the name of a department in a clothing store or a section of a clothing website. More formal terms, like nightclothes and nightwear, are rarely used.The word pajama, without an s, is used as a modifier in terms involving pajamas, such as pajama pants.Example: When I get home tonight, I’m changing into my most comfortable pajamas, snuggling under the covers, and watching a movie.