underwear

[uhn-der-wair]

noun

1. clothing worn worn next to the skin under outer clothes.

underwear

/ ˈʌndəˌwɛə /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of underwear¹

First recorded in 1870–75; under- + wear

Example Sentences

While she credits pageants for her professional success, she also acknowledges that it’s not ideal to be “parading women around on a stage in their underwear, essentially, to win a scholarship.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

His story about the classified documents has changed more often than some people change their underwear.

Read more on Salon

Other videos showed women flashing their underwear in public places or exposing their breasts.

Read more on BBC

Some of the detainees told lawmakers they were held inside Adelanto for 10 days without a change of clothes, underwear or towels, Chu said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Period pants are underwear with built-in absorbent layers.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• bikini 
• bra 
• corset 
• lingerie 
• shorts 
• undergarment 
• underpants 
• undershirt