denim

noun

den·​im ˈde-nəm 

1

a

: a firm durable twilled usually cotton fabric woven with colored warp and white filling threads

b

: a similar fabric woven in colored stripes

2

denims plural : overalls or trousers usually of blue denim

denimed

ˈde-nəmd 

adjective

Did you know?

Many fabrics have been named for the places where they were once made. Denim gets its name from Nîmes, a city in France famous for its textiles. But the name came about in an unusual way. The fabric, a heavy serge, was originally called serge de Nîmes, literally, “serge from Nîmes.” The “s” on Nîmes is not pronounced in French, so when the name of the fabric came into English, it was often written serge de Nim and later serge denim. In time, this was shortened to simply denim.

Examples of denim in a Sentence

He's wearing faded denims and cowboy boots.

Recent Examples on the Web

From oversized coats and baggy denim to textured layers of suede and faux fur, the runways were filled with pieces that are not only chic but also practical. —Gabrielle Porcaro, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2025

Straight leg denim overalls feature tortoise shell buttons and 5-pocket jeans have double-layer knee patches for extra durability. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 16 Sep. 2025

Levi’s has always been the frontrunner in diverse, inclusive style, featuring tons of variations of denim, and a wide selection of sizes. —Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 16 Sep. 2025

Solange Knowles, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter’s sister, wore a pair of baggy, extra wide-leg, low-rise denim with seam detailing and a Luar belt, along with a sleeveless top revealing the artist’s midriff. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French (serge) de Nîmes serge of Nîmes, France

First Known Use

1695, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for denim

• plenum
• venom
• imipenem

Kids Definition

denim

noun

den·​im ˈden-əm 

1

: a firm durable twilled usually cotton fabric

2

plural : overalls or trousers of denim

Etymology

from French (serge) de Nîmes "serge (fabric) from Nîmes (city in France)"

Word Origin

Many fabrics have been named for the places where they were once made. Denim gets its name from Nîmes, a city in France famous for its textiles. But the name came about in an unusual way. The fabric, a heavy serge, was originally called serge de Nîmes, literally, "serge from Nîmes." The "s" on Nîmes is not pronounced in French, so when the name of the fabric came into English, it was often written serge de Nim and later serge denim. In time this was shortened to simply denim.