trousers

American  

[trou-zerz] / ˈtraʊ zərz /

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.

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trousers British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• trousered adjective
• trouserless adjective

Etymology

Origin of trousers

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

Compare meaning

How does trousers compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• trousers vs. slacks

Example Sentences

Partey wore dark grey trousers, a black jumper over a white shirt, and smart black shoes to the court.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

After the show, we grabbed a few minutes with the 71-year-old rock star, who wore a beaded vest and tight silver-and-black trousers and sipped from a red plastic cup.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

Celebrities including Kendall Jenner and Damson Idris watched models styling their kits with flared trousers, distressed denim and micro-shorts.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

It’s high season in Palm Beach, Fla., and for some bold male dressers, that means awfully bright trousers, worn with a wink.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

He had on his gardening clothes—old trousers, shirtsleeves rolled up past the elbow—and in the wheelbarrow were tomato plants and cucumber, flats of strawberry and sunflower and scarlet geranium.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Related Words

• knickers
• slacks