underwear

American

[uhn-der-wair] / ˈʌn dərˌwɛər /

noun

clothing worn next to the skin under outer clothes.

underwear British

/ ˈʌndəˌwɛə /

noun

Also called: underclothes. clothing worn under the outer garments, usually next to the skin

"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 underwear

First recorded in 1870–75; under- + wear

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.

See Examples For:

underwear

Her expressionless mug has been featured on countless toys, not to mention bowling balls, motor oil, a Fender Strat, a pricey Judith Leiber clutch, sanitary napkins and men’s underwear.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

He stumbled out of bed in his underwear and down the hall to his darkened living room.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

"What will we do with pads if we don't have underwear?"

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

Researchers found that the cotton underwear broke down at very different speeds depending on where it was buried.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 28, 2026

Ever since I staggered home through the woods in my underwear, I have been trying to feel nothing about what happened.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

underwear

noun

noun

Etymology

Origin of underwear

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Related Words