turtleneck

noun

tur·​tle·​neck ˈtər-tᵊl-ˌnek 

1

: a high close-fitting turnover collar used especially for sweaters

2

: a garment (such as a sweater) with a turtleneck

turtlenecked

ˈtər-tᵊl-ˌnekt 

adjective

Examples of turtleneck in a Sentence

She wore a turtleneck under her jacket.

Recent Examples on the Web

Indeed, Cardellini donned an equally iconic orange turtleneck to play Velma Dinkley in the 2002 and ’04 live-action Scooby-Doo movies. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026

The eight looks play on contrast, according to Bolden, including a monochromatic red look, a cashmere turtleneck paired with silk lace and a button-down worn with mulberry silk pants. — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

In the midst of the festivities, among a crowd of bookish faculty and graduate students, Annie and Wendy convinced an overheated newspaper photographer who’d been sent to cover the event to abandon his turtleneck. — Robert P. Baird, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2026

Ralph Lauren chose a wool maxiskirt that paired perfectly with a dark chocolate turtleneck. — Emma Bocchi, Glamour, 20 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing turtleneck

• mock turtleneck

Rhymes for turtleneck

• biotech
• bottleneck
• quarterdeck
• zapotec
• aztec
• breakneck
• codec
• exec
• mixtec
• paycheck
• pinchbeck
• recheck

Kids Definition

turtleneck

noun

tur·​tle·​neck -ˌnek 

1

: a high turned-over collar (as of a sweater)

2

: a garment (as a sweater) with a turtleneck