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

Anna, in a cardigan and a messy bun, has ordered a box of editions of The Ladder, a magazine launched in the fifties, published by the first lesbian-rights organization in the United States. —Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026

Her silk sweetheart gown and cropped cardigan, also designed by Sarah Burton, went viral in 2022 as being particularly gorgeous and underrated. —Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 5 Apr. 2026

Wear it with sandals to the beach, throw on sneakers for wandering around town, and add a cardigan when the evening gets breezy. —Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2026

Prepare for spring’s unpredictable weather with this lightweight, easy-to-layer cardigan. —Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 4 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