unitard
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of unitard
Compare meaning
How does unitard compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
The hardest thing about being a circus acrobat might be wearing a unitard — the skin-tight, stretchy combination of a leotard and tights. Many athletes and performers wear unitards, which sometimes have built-in tight shorts and sometimes extend to the ankles like footless tights. A unitard is intended to fully cover the wearer's body while still allowing for complete flexibility — it's ideal for contortionists and gymnasts. The word itself comes from leotard, which was named for Jules Léotard, an 1880s French trapeze artist. Unitard has the prefix uni, "having one only," because it's a complete one-piece outfit.
Vocabulary lists containing unitard
Power Prefix: uni-
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for May 1–May 7, 2021
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: uni-
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Her piece is a simple lycra zip-up unitard, adorned with tennis ball pockets on either thigh.
From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026
The statuesque Ms. Chapa wears a silvery unitard that bares her shoulders and arms to allow for winglike moments.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 17, 2025
What was the process like of trying to find the right sparkly unitard, for example?
From Salon • May 16, 2024
Onstage in Brooklyn in May, Sawayama brought her fans into her version of it — devil chic — vamping about the stage in a blood-red, strong-shouldered unitard.
From New York Times • Aug. 17, 2022
She looked strange and lumpy in her faded unitard.
From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson
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.
