tights
Americannoun
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a skin-tight, one-piece garment for the lower part of the body and the legs, now often made of stretch fabric, originally worn by dancers, acrobats, gymnasts, etc., and later made for general wear for adults and children.
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a leotard with legs and, sometimes, feet.
plural noun
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Also called (US, Canadian, Austral, and NZ): pantyhose. a one-piece clinging garment covering the body from the waist to the feet, worn by women in place of stockings
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Also called: leotards. a similar, tight-fitting garment worn instead of trousers by either sex
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a similar garment formerly worn by men, as in the 16th century with a doublet
Etymology
Origin of tights
Explanation
Tights are a like snug, super long socks that go all the way up to your waist. Ballet dancers wear tights — and so does Superman. Tights are worn under skirts or dresses, by dancers and runners, and by actors playing roles including Hamlet and Peter Pan. The name comes from "tight-fitting breeches," and beginning in the early 19th century, tights referred to gear worn by acrobats and dancers. Today, the words pantyhose and stockings are commonly used interchangeably with tights.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At those days, women workers used to receive small gifts on International Women's Day -- "those famous tights, chocolates, carnations..."
From Barron's ● Mar. 7, 2026
At her last practice earlier in the day, she was perfectly comfortable bouncing around with a hole in her patterned black tights while others wore their competition dresses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 19, 2026
Most of the designs were made from the same foundation, consisting of a mannequin, a pair of stuffed tights, and a head made of newspaper, kitchen foil, and masking tape.
From BBC ● Jan. 28, 2026
One is familiar and increasingly specific: a good leotard, fleece-lined tights, an extra water bottle, Band-Aids for blisters, putty-colored flats for barre, a pair of low, strappy heels for salsa.
From Salon ● Jan. 1, 2026
She was dressed in her Act I Cinderella clothes: a simple gray dress, black tights, and black ballet slippers.
From "The Cinderella Ballet Mystery: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #4" by Carolyn Keene
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
