tighty-whities

[tahy-tee-hwahy-teez, wahy-teez]

plural noun

Slang.

1. men’s white, close-fitting underpants or briefs.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tighty-whities¹

First recorded in 1990–95; tight ( def. ) + -y ² ( def. ) + whit(e) ( def. ) + -y ² ( def. ) + -s ³ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Initial video posted last week by TMZ showed the performer wearing only tighty-whities and white cowboy boots, strolling and posing on an L.A. street just before sunrise — and just before his arrest on suspicion of charging at a police officer.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He was probably sitting in his tighty-whities as he made a fool of himself, live on the air, over his latest polling numbers.

Read more on Salon

“Trump chased her around his hotel room in his ‘tighty-whities,’ ” wrote Evans.

Read more on Slate

It’s a blizzard of surprise reveals, doors ripping off their hinges, wrecking balls turned disco balls, industrial machinery and household conveniences, bloody brides and workers in tighty-whities.

Read more on Washington Post

He wears designer suits but his underwear, cheap Russian tighty-whities, is poignant.

Read more on New York Times