jersey

noun

jer·​sey ˈjər-zē 

plural jerseys

1

a

: any of various close-fitting usually circular-knitted garments especially for the upper body

b

: an often loose-fitting shirt that is worn by a member of a sports team as part of a team uniform and that typically has the athlete's name and number on the back

a football jersey

2

: a plain weft-knitted fabric made of wool, cotton, nylon, rayon, or silk and used especially for clothing

3

capitalized : any of a breed of small short-horned predominantly yellowish brown or fawn dairy cattle noted for their rich milk

Examples of jersey in a Sentence

The dress is made of cotton jersey.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Dolphins wear white jerseys at home for afternoon games, forcing opponents to wear darker colors that absorb more heat. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025

Hazel and Violet coordinated their outfits, with Violet wearing a light pink dress and blue cardigan, while her older sister wore a white and pink jersey with light wash jeans. —Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025

Get jerseys, hats, shirts and other gear of your favorite team. —Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025

Prescott pointed to the referee immediately after the spit hit his jersey, sparking a heated moment between the rivals. —Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Jersey, one of the Channel Islands

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

jersey

noun

jer·​sey ˈjər-zē 

plural jerseys

1

: a plain knitted fabric

2

: a close-fitting knitted garment (as a shirt)

3

capitalized : any of a breed of small usually light tan dairy cattle having short horns and noted for their rich milk

Geographical Definition

Jersey

geographical name

Jer·​sey ˈjər-zē 

1

island in the English Channel; one of the Channel Islands; capital Saint Helier area 45 square miles (117 square kilometers)

Note: The Jersey breed of cattle, the knit fabric called jersey, and the types of upper-body garments called jerseys all derive their names from this island.

2

new jersey

—an informal name

Jerseyan

ˈjər-zē-ən 

noun

Jerseyite

ˈjər-zē-ˌīt 

noun