topless

American  

[top-lis] / ˈtɒp lɪs /

adjective

1. lacking a top: tops.

   a topless bathing suit.

2. nude above the waist or hips.

   topless dancers.

3. featuring entertainers, waitresses, etc., who are nude above the waist or hips.

   a topless bar.

4. extremely high.

   a topless mountain.

5. Obsolete. without a peer.

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topless British  

/ ˈtɒplɪs /

adjective

1. having no top

2. 1. denoting a costume which has no covering for the breasts

   2. wearing such a costume

3. archaic immeasurably high

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Other Word Forms

• toplessness noun

Etymology

Origin of topless

First recorded in 1580–90; top ¹ + -less

Example Sentences

A moment later, Antonio Rüdiger was hurling himself, topless, into a morass of delirious Real Madrid fans.

From New York Times • Apr. 19, 2024

Finally, we watch as, seemingly topless, Darling lays back in bed practicing skin-to-skin contact with her just-born son.

From Washington Post • Oct. 4, 2022

The husband-and-wife duo took to Instagram to share their Fourth of July activities, which included taking an oceanside ride in a topless truck with the reality star’s youngest kids.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 5, 2022

It comes after leaders at the G7 summit poked fun at the Russian president's tendency to pose for topless photos.

From BBC • Jun. 30, 2022

With the educations Tansy made me and Lloyd get, we went out into the world – back east to the great boom of the big city, the topless towers of Indianapolis.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck