underpants

American

[uhn-der-pants] / ˈʌn dərˌpænts /

noun

(used with a plural verb)

drawers or shorts worn under outer clothing, usually next to the skin.

underpants British

/ ˈʌndəˌpænts /

plural noun

Often shortened to: pants. a man's undergarment covering the body from the waist or hips to the top of the thighs or knees

"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 underpants

First recorded in 1920–25; under- + pants

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.

"If Santa Claus is watching, the gladiator would like a nice new pair of blue underpants for Christmas please," he joked.

From BBC

What if Superman ripped his underpants on his quest to save you?

From Los Angeles Times

“This is way different from when you’re in your underpants on your couch eating Cheerios, yelling at the TV,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

"Further, our members are adults. They do not need to be given instructions by the media about matters as trivial as the wearing of jewellery or underpants."

From BBC

On the screen, in near silence, a short, pale man wearing only blue underpants and black socks, could be seen approaching a bed.

From BBC

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