clothing

1 of 2

noun

cloth·​ing ˈklō-t͟hiŋ 

: items (as of cloth) designed to be worn to cover the body

The children and their teachers strolled up the path, the colors of their winter clothing bright against the monotone of the field.

—Ward Just

… radiating vibrance through her bright clothing and makeup.

—Hannah Jones

also : coverings

… seeks to regulate and adopt flammability standards to upholstered furniture, mattresses, bed clothing and candles.

—Home Textiles Today

see also:

wolf in sheep's clothing

clothing

2 of 2

present participle of clothe

Synonyms of clothing

Noun

• clothes
• attire
• garments
• apparel
• dress

Examples of clothing in a Sentence

Noun

an expensive article of clothing

We're collecting food and clothing for the poor.

Only people wearing protective clothing may enter the room.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The site of the actual club at 315 Bowery Street on New York’s Lower East Side has been a John Varvatos clothing store since 2008. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026

Curation, expert context and authentication together push archival pieces closer to collectible territory than ordinary secondhand clothing, giving provenance a real role in what makes a piece valuable. — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026

The archive encompasses works from 1978 to 2015, including sketches, patterns, photographs, look books and nearly 500 items of clothing. — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026

Woods is an entrepreneur and model and founder of Woods by Jordan, a lifestyle brand offering clothing, accessories, and home products. — Brian Boucher For Artnews, Robb Report, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing clothing

• nonrestrictive clothing
• not wearing a stitch (of clothes/clothing)
• wolf in sheep's clothing

Rhymes for clothing

• underclothing

Kids Definition

clothing

noun

cloth·​ing ˈklō-t͟hiŋ 

1

: covering for the human body

2

: something that covers or conceals