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undershirt

American  
[uhn-der-shurt] / ˈʌn dərˌʃɜrt /

noun

  1. a collarless, usually pullover undergarment for the torso, usually of cotton and either sleeveless and low-cut or with sleeves, worn chiefly by men and children.

undershirt British  
/ ˈʌndəˌʃɜːt /

noun

  1. Brit name: vest.  an undergarment worn under a blouse or shirt

"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 undershirt

First recorded in 1640–50; under- + shirt

Vocabulary lists containing undershirt

Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: under-

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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.

The Norway forward had already had his undershirt partially ripped in one physical tussle during City's 2-1 win on Sunday.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

Gatwa's Time Lord arrives in half of 14th’s clothes – the button-down shirt, casually undone tie, high-top sneakers, and cotton boxer briefs, leaving his predecessor in his undershirt and suit, sans sneakers.

From Salon • Dec. 25, 2023

According to the 38-page Office of Inspector General report, the jails typically issue each inmate a short-sleeved shirt and pants, one short-sleeved undershirt and one blanket.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 12, 2023

La Roja is using a technology in which the coach can talk directly to his players on small speakers installed on their undershirt vests, the same ones that carry their data-collecting GPS devices.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 21, 2022

I push into Lenny’s bedroom without even taking my coat off and pull open that stupid undershirt drawer.

From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden

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.