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

Crafted from cotton and cashmere, the cardigan is soft, breathable, and cozy without being overly warm. — Kaitlin Gates, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2026

Wear it on its own with jeans, shorts, or skirts throughout the summer, then layer it under a cardigan or blazer when temperatures start to dip. — Jacquelyn McGilvray, PEOPLE, 12 July 2026

Best Amazon Outlet Fashion Deals Fashion finds include popular brands—like Lee and Levi’s—as well as two-piece matching sets, swimsuit cover-ups, and floral cardigans. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2026

After testing dozens, the Horse Daisy Bag finally met my qualifications of being spacious enough to store pretty much anything, including my laptop, a cardigan, an entire Owalla water bottle, and my 500-page copy of East of Eden. — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 2 July 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