tunic

American  

[too-nik, tyoo-] / ˈtu nɪk, ˈtyu- /

noun

1. Chiefly British. a coat worn as part of a military or other uniform.

2. a gownlike outer garment, with or without sleeves and sometimes belted, worn by the ancient Greeks and Romans.

3. a woman's upper garment, either loose or close-fitting and extending over the skirt to the hips or below.

4. a garment with a short skirt, worn by women for sports.

5. Ecclesiastical. a tunicle.

6. Anatomy, Zoology. any covering or investing membrane or part, as of an organ.

7. Botany. an integument, as that covering a seed.

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tunic British  

/ ˈtjuːnɪk /

noun

1. any of various hip-length or knee-length garments, such as the loose sleeveless garb worn in ancient Greece or Rome, the jacket of some soldiers, or a woman's hip-length garment, worn with a skirt or trousers

2. anatomy botany zoology a covering, lining, or enveloping membrane of an organ or part See also tunica

3. RC Church another word for tunicle

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Other Word Forms

• subtunic noun
• supertunic noun
• undertunic noun

Etymology

Origin of tunic

before 900; (< French tunique ) < Latin tunica; perhaps also continuing Old English tunece, tunica < Latin

Explanation

A tunic is a loose-fitting shirt that looks sort of like a long shirt or a short dress. For a fashionable summer look, you might pair trousers with a comfortable tunic that extends past your waist. The ancient Greeks and Romans were early fans of the tunic, and the loose-fitting garment remains popular in modern times. A tunic is popular wardrobe choice in hot, tropical regions because it's loose fitting and comfortable and helps you stay cool. Tunic can also refer to a membrane or tissue that covers something, like an organ or part of a plant. Some plants like tulips and onions have a protective tunic covering the outside of their bulb.

Example Sentences

Josefina Baillères, a finalist in the jewelry category who took home the award later that night, wore a simple mesh tunic.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

And I had to wear a tunic, which I put into “Garden State.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026

W. H. Auden once wrote of a miserable Roman soldier guarding a cold, rain-soaked wall in northern Europe, mentioning "lice in my tunic and a cold in my nose."

From Science Daily • Dec. 21, 2025

When she was tossed by the cow, her tunic ripped.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

She tugs at the sleeve of her tunic.

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

Related Words

• blouse
• coat
• jacket
• robe