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Synonyms

underwear

American  
[uhn-der-wair] / ˈʌn dərˌwɛər /

noun

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

underwear British  
/ ˈʌndəˌwɛə /

noun

  1. 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.

“Intruders have set fires, burning holes in the floors and scorching wood wainscoting and pews. Empty beef jerky bags, discarded underwear and clumps of plaster litter the worn burgundy carpeting.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

And, yes, she plans to include some necessities among this year’s offerings, including socks and underwear.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

The sensor sits outside your underwear and can be cleaned with alcohol wipes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

A shirtless Justin Bieber, only in his underwear and socks, strolled onto the Grammys stage Sunday with a purple guitar strapped around his neck.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2026

He pulled on his underwear and buttoned his shirt hurriedly.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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.