denim

noun

den·​im ˈde-nəm 

1

a

: a firm durable twilled usually cotton fabric woven with colored warp and white filling threads

b

: a similar fabric woven in colored stripes

2

denims plural : overalls or trousers usually of blue denim

denimed

ˈde-nəmd 

adjective

Did you know?

Many fabrics have been named for the places where they were once made. Denim gets its name from Nîmes, a city in France famous for its textiles. But the name came about in an unusual way. The fabric, a heavy serge, was originally called serge de Nîmes, literally, “serge from Nîmes.” The “s” on Nîmes is not pronounced in French, so when the name of the fabric came into English, it was often written serge de Nim and later serge denim. In time, this was shortened to simply denim.

Examples of denim in a Sentence

He's wearing faded denims and cowboy boots.

Recent Examples on the Web

His friendships with musicians gave him direct access to the aesthetic of rock stars, from ripped denim to leather jackets dripping with attitude. —Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

Madewell Superwide-Leg Jeans Madewell is one of my favorite denim brands for consistent quality, a great fit, and a wide range of styles. —Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025

In April, Armedangels bowed the first line of denim made with SaXcell, a high-quality lyocell derived from textile waste. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 9 Sep. 2025

Born in 2016, the modern American luxury brand debuted with denim, leather and cashmere before expanding with handbags, footwear and accessories, while gaining a cult following along the way. —Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French (serge) de Nîmes serge of Nîmes, France

First Known Use

1695, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for denim

• plenum
• venom
• imipenem

Kids Definition

denim

noun

den·​im ˈden-əm 

1

: a firm durable twilled usually cotton fabric

2

plural : overalls or trousers of denim

Etymology

from French (serge) de Nîmes "serge (fabric) from Nîmes (city in France)"

Word Origin

Many fabrics have been named for the places where they were once made. Denim gets its name from Nîmes, a city in France famous for its textiles. But the name came about in an unusual way. The fabric, a heavy serge, was originally called serge de Nîmes, literally, "serge from Nîmes." The "s" on Nîmes is not pronounced in French, so when the name of the fabric came into English, it was often written serge de Nim and later serge denim. In time this was shortened to simply denim.