trousers
Americannoun
-
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.
plural noun
-
a garment shaped to cover the body from the waist to the ankles or knees with separate tube-shaped sections for both legs
-
US equivalent: wear the pants. informal to have control, esp in a marriage
Other Word Forms
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:
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.
Willy Chavarria sunglasses on, textured Ferragamo trousers glittering with each camera flash, she strides through without pausing.
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026
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
The show unfolded as a procession of legging-like trousers cut close to the body, high-gloss leather and crystal-embellished dresses.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026
“Besides, you and me are all the family that’s left, Aunt Kitty,” I said, hitching my wool trousers up a bit.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
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.
