romper

American  

[rom-per] / ˈrɒm pər /

noun

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.

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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

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

On this Sunday, one of those items was a well-loved blue polka-dot romper with puff sleeves, which Mansi found at a vintage store years earlier, and she sold it for $20.

From Los Angeles Times • May 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

The site sells clothing, temporary tattoos, modeling clay, electronics and other items directly to consumers for low prices, like $3 for a baby romper, $6 for sandals and $8 for a vacuum.

From New York Times • Jun. 22, 2023

“I remember when she came to visit us in Boston. She was dressed in a pink romper suit and her hair stuck up straight off her head. Johnny wasn’t born till three weeks later.”

From "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart