trousers

American  

[trau-zerz] / ˈtraʊ zərz /

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. Also called pants. Sometimes a usually loose-fitting outer garment for the lower part of the body, having individual leg portions that reach typically to the ankle but sometimes to any of various other points from the upper leg down.

2. pantalets.

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trousers British  

/ ˈtraʊzəz /

plural noun

1. a garment shaped to cover the body from the waist to the ankles or knees with separate tube-shaped sections for both legs

2. US equivalent: wear the pants. informal to have control, esp in a marriage

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Other Word Forms

• trousered
  adjective
• trouserless
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of trousers

1585–95; trouse (variant of trews ) + (draw)ers (in the sense “undergarment with legs”)

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Compare meaning

How does trousers compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• trousers vs. slacks

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

trousers

With a thick beard and wearing a grey sweatshirt and trousers, he spoke only to confirm his address in Rotherham and his date of birth.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

The man who initially fired the gun was wearing a long white shirt as well as military fatigue trousers and boots, which are commonly worn by soldiers, Wessels said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026

About 09:41, footage showed Brennan putting his blood stained trousers in a clothing bin near MacGregor's flat.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

"We found out he was putting his trousers under the mattress and pressing them as he slept."

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

Just then we heard a car driving up, and from it stepped a figure wearing a shirt and trousers, carrying a small black bag.

From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya

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Related Words

• knickers
• slacks

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