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.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• rompers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of romper

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

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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

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

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

She wore her gym suit baggy, like a romper.

From "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 15, 2026

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

Ms. Fain is old enough to remember when millennials determined what was in vogue: rompers, rose pink, craft beer, Netflix and chill.

From New York Times ● Oct. 28, 2021

Freeborn said the rompers, like the others from her brand, are designed for transitional use.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2019

In those early weeks she had fed Mirabelle every four hours, held her every time she cried, and watched her grow until her heels stretched her newborn rompers almost to the breaking point.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

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