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turtleneck

American  
[tur-tl-nek] / ˈtɜr tlˌnɛk /

noun

  1. a high, close-fitting collar, often rolled or turned down, appearing especially on pullover sweaters.

  2. a sweater with such a collar.

turtleneck British  
/ ˈtɜːtəlˌnɛk /

noun

    1. a round high close-fitting neck on a sweater or the sweater itself

    2. ( as modifier )

      a turtleneck sweater
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of turtleneck

First recorded in 1905–10; turtle 1 + neck

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.

He quickly left Memphis for Chicago after the assassination and arranged various television appearances still wearing a turtleneck allegedly stained with King’s blood.

From Salon • Feb. 17, 2026

“This brief fashion phase contrasted sharply with the minimalist black turtleneck and jeans that would later define his public image,” a description of the item states.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2026

No one picks a mesh turtleneck in a vacuum.

From Slate • Dec. 14, 2024

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs almost always wore the same outfit – a black St. Croix mock turtleneck sweater, blue Levi's 501 jeans, and New Balance 991 trainers.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2024

She comes and straightens up my turtleneck collar.

From "The Skin I'm In" by Sharon G. Flake

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.