tunic

noun

tu·​nic ˈtü-nik 

ˈtyü-

1

a

: a simple slip-on garment made with or without sleeves and usually knee-length or longer, belted at the waist, and worn as an under or outer garment by men and women of ancient Greece and Rome

b

: surcoat

2

a

: a hip-length or longer blouse or jacket

b

: a short overskirt

3

: a long usually plain close-fitting jacket with high collar worn especially as part of a uniform

4

: tunicle

5

: an enclosing or covering membrane or tissue

the tunic of a seed

Examples of tunic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Photos on the Thunderbirds website show current and past members wearing velvet tunics reminiscent of Diné/Navajo clothing, large silver Thunderbird pendants hanging from chains around their necks, and silver and turquoise Navajo-style concho belts wrapped around their waists. —Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024

Olrik Waffle Knit Tunic Available in a myriad of colors and spring-ready motifs, this tunic can easily take you from a coffee date with friends to a walk in the park. —Wendy Vazquez, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2024

The knits are some of the best pieces: an alpaca mesh cardigan and tunic in a shade of tomato red or dusty baby blue, an oversized cashmere crew in Copenhagen blue, and an asymmetric slouchy turtleneck in mint green. —Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2024

Tianzhu Faux-Wrap Tunic There's nothing basic or boring about this simple, faux-wrap tunic. —Wendy Vazquez, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2024

Perhaps Ringo’s most famous outfit was his psychedelic pink satin military tunic and flat-top hat for the Sgt. —Adam Bell, Charlotte Observer, 22 Feb. 2024

Luckily, Amazon’s Hot New Releases section, which spotlights items that are new and are already popular with shoppers, is filled with plenty of winter-to-spring pieces, including this oversized short-sleeve tunic that’s discounted right now. —Rachel Simon, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024

Dressed in a traditional kurta tunic, Modi led the consecration ceremony as Hindu priests chanted hymns and a 4.25-foot statue of Lord Ram was unveiled in the temple’s inner sanctum. —Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 21 Jan. 2024

In 1990, Owens heard about a job as a patternmaker for Lamy, who had her own line of cotton dresses and sweater tunics. —Nick Haramis Ola Rindal Dogukan Nesanir, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Old English tunice, from Latin tunica, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew kuttōneth coat

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

tunic

noun

tu·​nic ˈt(y)ü-nik 

1

: a usually belted knee-length garment worn by ancient Greeks and Romans

2

: a shirt or jacket reaching to or just below the hips

Medical Definition

tunic

noun

tu·​nic ˈt(y)ü-nik 

: an enclosing or covering membrane or tissue : tunica

the tunics of the eye