cardigan

noun

car·​di·​gan ˈkär-di-gən 

: a usually collarless sweater or jacket that opens the full length of the center front

Examples of cardigan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Wear them casually with tennis shoes and a tank top, or dress them up with heeled sandals and a pretty cardigan. —Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026

Or Hailey Bieber's black tanks, cream cardigan, and cargo pants 'fit. —Meg Walters, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026

During a recent outing in New York, the Dawson's Creek alum paired a particularly cool pair of these light-wash ankle jeans with an open cardigan and cozy scarf, seemingly leaning into the season's granny trends. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 12 Apr. 2026

Short-sleeve cardigans are the ultimate spring wardrobe staple for their exceptionally soft fabrics and featherlight feel that don’t weigh you down in the heat. —Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan †1868 English soldier

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cardigan

noun

car·​di·​gan ˈkärd-i-gən 

: a usually collarless sweater opening down the front

Geographical Definition

Cardigan

geographical name

Car·​di·​gan ˈkär-di-gən 

variants or Cardiganshire

ˈkär-di-gən-ˌshir 

-shər

former county of western Wales; capital Aberystwyth