romper

American  

[rom-per] / ˈrɒm pər /

noun

rompers plural

1. a person or thing that romps.

2. (used with a plural verb) Usually rompers.

   1. a loose, one-piece garment combining a shirt or blouse and short, bloomerlike pants, worn by young children.

   2. a similar garment worn by women and girls for sports, leisure activity, etc.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• rompers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of romper

First recorded in 1835–40; romp + -er ¹

Explanation

A romper is a piece of clothing consisting of a shirt with attached shorts. Very small children often wear rompers, but sometimes trendy women wear rompers too. There are adult-sized rompers, most of which are sold as women's clothing, but it's more likely you'll see toddlers wearing rompers. The earliest rompers were worn by children for playing in the early 20th century. They marked a change from the Victorian era, in which kids mainly wore restrictive clothing. In early 1900s France, rompers were considered boys' clothing. Romper comes from romp, "play or frolic."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

romper rompers

The market for kids’ vintage clothing has heated up precipitously over the last few years, perhaps hitting a boiling point in January when an Eeyore romper from the ’90s sold for over $3,000 on EBay.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026

Cean’s compression romper takes athletic wear to the next level and will be on the wishlist of any wellness obsessive.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026

Among the pieces that she had teased on social media were a sewing machine, a steamer, lamps, a “tiny side table,” a sequin romper, and a Bergdorf Goodman jacket.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2025

And when we do ask policy questions about the economy or international events, with the exception of a few solid professionals in the room, we sound like romper room kids soiling our shorts.

From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2024

My cousin jumps up and wipes her ketchup-stained hands on her romper.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Yet Churchill’s wartime wardrobe included velvet slippers and one-piece rompers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 15, 2026

Marty was still in rompers when Sid began performing; the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus billed him as “the world’s youngest puppeteer.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 27, 2023

Many move in packs: bros in matching outfits or brightly colored, short-legged rompers, women who appear more ready for a night out than a golf tournament in their tight dresses and high heels.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 12, 2022

Far be it for us to deflate the spirits of those, say, dancing in constellation-printed rompers and drinking Budweiser at the Space Center Houston a couple of weeks ago.

From New York Times ● Aug. 2, 2019

Throughout the Beachwood Place Mall, located in an upscale suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, high-priced merchandise was moving: $80 cotton rompers at Oh How Cute, $40 scented candles at Bigelow Pharmacy.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times