boxer shorts

American

noun

(used with a plural verb)

men's loose-fitting undershorts with an elastic waistband.

boxer shorts British

plural noun

Also called: boxers. men's underpants shaped like shorts but having a front opening

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of boxer shorts

First recorded in 1945–50

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 tribunal was told that in the changing room Rose was "seen wearing boxer shorts" and "bearing stubble".

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026

It bought a gold mine, started offering in-theater perks to retail investors, and saw its CEO appear on a publicly streamed call in his boxer shorts.

From Slate • May 13, 2024

Boxers had grown increasingly popular after World War II, as men who served in the military adjusted to the standard-issue boxer shorts.

From National Geographic • Jan. 9, 2024

So a superficial Jack Lemmon vibe — except Jack Lemmon never twerked in boxer shorts.

From New York Times • Jul. 6, 2023

It was a funny scene, Dana hopping up and down in his baggy boxer shorts, but Roy wasn’t in the mood to enjoy it.

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023