jean

noun

ˈjēn 

plural jeans

1

: a durable twilled cotton cloth used especially for sportswear and work clothes

2

usually jeans

ˈjēnz 

: pants usually made of denim or jean

… strolling with royal puppy Lupo through Kensington Gardens near the couple's two-bedroom cottage in a pair of jeans and rain boots.

—Alicia Dennis et al.

Millions of people today buy designer jeans for double the price of equally durable generic jeans …

—Jared Diamond

see also blue jeans, mom jeans

Examples of jean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Oofos has always been one of my all-time favorite footwear brands, and this newer style looks great with casual jeans, sporty shorts, and sleek leggings alike. —Jennifer Chan, PEOPLE, 15 Nov. 2025

In for a Penny, in for a Pound The classic penny loafer, of course, looks great with other staples like a bomber jacket, jeans, and button-ups. —Christina Holevas, Vogue, 15 Nov. 2025

So with that said, enter Levi’s Wedgie Straight Ankle jeans that are low stretch. —Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 14 Nov. 2025

Sourcing fabric and manufacturing jeans in Mexico has also mitigated challenges with importing fabrics. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

short for jean fustian, from Middle English Gene Genoa, Italy + fustian

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing jean

• jean shorts

Rhymes for jean

• bean
• bein
• bien
• bouin
• chine
• clean
• deen
• diene
• gene
• glean
• keen
• lien

Kids Definition

jean

noun

ˈjēn 

1

: a heavy cotton cloth used especially for sportswear and work clothes

2

plural : pants made of jean, denim, or corduroy

Etymology

a shortened form of earlier jean fustian, literally "a fustian (heavy cotton cloth) from Genoa," from Middle English Gene "Genoa, Italy"