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

According to Lewis, seeing Stewart in American Eagle denim might make younger consumers reconsider the brand, especially given Stewart’s current stature in internet culture. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025

Without buttons or zippers pressing into your skin during extended sitting, these flares deliver the look of classic denim with significantly more comfort and a more flattering fit. —Gabriela Garcia, Travel + Leisure, 26 Nov. 2025

In fact, the latest celebrity denim trend — spotted on A-listers like Kelly Clarkson, Joanna Gaines, and more — is sending dark wash denim to the top of our list of go-to pieces for holiday parties, nice dinners, and other celebrations. —Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025

Additional content will lean into Stewart’s expertise around holiday celebrations and entertaining, all while showcasing denim. —Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 25 Nov. 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.