clothing

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

Synonyms of clothing

• clothes
• attire
• garments
• apparel
• dress

Examples of clothing in a Sentence

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

From electronics to clothing to food, nearly every industry has felt the sting. —Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 9 June 2026

The headscarf and loose clothing cover the entire body. —ABC News, 8 June 2026

Housewares, clothing, footwear and sports equipment had the biggest declines, anywhere from 5% to 7%. —Anne D’innocenzio, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026

For decades, West Africa’s largest secondhand market had thrived on the global North’s castoffs, yet a growing deluge of fast fashion and its ultra-fast successors had turned Accra into the world’s clothing graveyard. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 8 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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