T-shirt

American  

[tee-shurt] / ˈtiˌʃɜrt /

Or tee-shirt,

noun

T-shirts plural

1. a lightweight, usually knitted, pullover shirt, close-fitting and with a round neckline and short sleeves, worn as an undershirt or outer garment.

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T-shirt British  

noun

1. a lightweight simple garment for the upper body, usually short-sleeved

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• T-shirts
  plural

Etymology

Origin of T-shirt

First recorded in 1940–45; named from its shape

Example Sentences

Even in my fire company, where we are dedicated to preventing loss of life, skulls are on practically every T-shirt, bumper sticker, and key chain.

From Slate • Jul. 10, 2026

Amid worries of the environmental impact, there’s “the relief of seeing somebody out there, just a normal person wearing a homemade T-shirt, saying, ‘Hey, we’re here.

From Salon • Jul. 9, 2026

Now we await a reprise of her jeans and white T-shirt red carpet look from last year.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 8, 2026

Yet taking advantage of the tax breaks is not as straightforward a task as other camp-related duties — like remembering to label every T-shirt and pair of socks campers bring.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 6, 2026

As the wind cut through my T-shirt, I wrapped my arms around myself with the despairing feeling that this cursed day would never end.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Related Words

• bodice
• pullover
• turtleneck