jean

noun

ˈjēn 

plural jeans

1

: a durable twilled cotton cloth used especially for sportswear and work clothes

2

usually jeans

ˈjēnz 

: pants usually made of denim or jean

… strolling with royal puppy Lupo through Kensington Gardens near the couple's two-bedroom cottage in a pair of jeans and rain boots.

—Alicia Dennis et al.

Millions of people today buy designer jeans for double the price of equally durable generic jeans …

—Jared Diamond

see also blue jeans, mom jeans

Examples of jean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Made from a lightweight knit, the pullover is easy to throw on and go and pairs well with everything from jeans to trousers. —Melony Forcier, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025

The Duchess of Sussex also discussed her regular barefoot-and-jeans look and her more casual, warm way of greeting guests in her 2022 Netflix series, Harry & Meghan. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2025

Lands' End Mid Rise Denim Wide Leg Jeans These trouser-like jeans will add a chic touch to any fall travel wardrobe. —Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025

Both jeans are available in Mott & Bow’s Mercer, Gilmore and Hubert fabrics and in a variety of dark to light indigo washes. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

short for jean fustian, from Middle English Gene Genoa, Italy + fustian

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing jean

• jean shorts

Rhymes for jean

• bean
• bein
• bien
• bouin
• chine
• clean
• deen
• diene
• gene
• glean
• keen
• lien

Kids Definition

jean

noun

ˈjēn 

1

: a heavy cotton cloth used especially for sportswear and work clothes

2

plural : pants made of jean, denim, or corduroy

Etymology

a shortened form of earlier jean fustian, literally "a fustian (heavy cotton cloth) from Genoa," from Middle English Gene "Genoa, Italy"