trousers

[trou-zerz]

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.

trousers

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• trouserless adjective
• trousered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trousers¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of trousers¹

C17: from earlier trouse , a variant of _trews , influenced by _drawers

Example Sentences

A section backstage is filled with racks of elaborate early 19th century gowns, jackets, trousers, corsets, petticoats, socks, shoes, hats, suits and more.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

On the runway, what was once an oversized pair of denim trousers has been transformed into a tiered, layered jacket paired with flared trousers and platform shoes.

Read more on Barron's

The Crash Detectives cameras show forensic investigators finding orange fibres from Mr Parry's orange high-vis trousers on the wheel of his Evo.

Read more on BBC

The duchess, who announced her arrival in Paris with an Instagram story, wore a white outfit of wide-leg trousers and a matching blazer from the collection for the show on Saturday.

Read more on BBC

She was referred to by police as "the woman in pink", because she was dressed in a pink floral top, pink trousers and pink shoes.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• knickers 
• slacks