flannel

noun

flan·​nel ˈfla-nᵊl 

1

a

: a soft twilled wool or worsted fabric with a loose texture and a slightly napped surface

b

: a napped cotton fabric of soft yarns simulating the texture of wool flannel

c

: a stout cotton fabric usually napped on one side

2

flannels plural

a

: flannel underwear

b

: outer garments of flannel

especially : men's trousers

3

British : washcloth

4

British : flattering or evasive talk

also : nonsense, rubbish

flannel adjective

flannelly

ˈfla-nᵊl-ē 

adjective

Synonyms of flannel

• butter
• taffy
• flattery
• soft soap

Examples of flannel in a Sentence

shirts made of bright-colored flannel

He wore a dark blazer and gray flannels.

Recent Examples on the Web

Amid two dozen people crammed into the bathroom, the friend tied a stranger’s flannel around Perazzo Beine’s leg, a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. —Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 8 Mar. 2026

Fuck-you angst, flannel shirts, and anti-establishment alternatives are in. —Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 3 Mar. 2026

On a recent Saturday, Cordero was dressed for the remote border terrain – flannel, hiking boots, a San Diego Padres cap pulled low against the sun. —Calmatters, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026

The campaign highlights Zimmerman’s favorite AE pieces such as the EasyFlex Loose jeans, AirFlex+ Original Bootcut jeans and a boxy lightweight flannel shirt and crew neck tank tops. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English flaunneol woolen cloth or garment

First Known Use

1503, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing flannel

• canton flannel
• red flannel hash

Rhymes for flannel

• annal
• annul
• cannel
• channel
• panel
• pannel
• multichannel
• perianal

Kids Definition

flannel

noun

flan·​nel ˈflan-ᵊl 

1

: a soft cloth made of wool or cotton

2

plural : flannel underwear or trousers