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

Jersey : 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 store is 8,000 square feet with plenty of options to choose from as far as merch goes, including jerseys, Funko Pops, soccer balls and more. —Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026

If blue-and-red jerseys and Chicago ballcaps are an accurate barometer, Cubs fans ruled — by a lot. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 11 June 2026

Defensive end Jared Harrison-Hunte and linebackers Trevin Wallace and Bam Martin-Scott continued to wear red non-contact jerseys while participating in drills. —Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026

My styling approach is all about contrast—think vintage jerseys worn with denim cutoffs, oversized track jackets layered over slip dresses, and track pants or shorts thrown over a bikini after a day at the beach. —Pernille Teisbaek, Vogue, 11 June 2026

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