jean

noun

plural jeans
1
: a durable twilled cotton cloth used especially for sportswear and work clothes
2
usually jeans : 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 jeansJared Diamond
see also blue jeans, mom jeans

Examples of jean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Paltrow complied with a possibly recent pic of the two actors on a rural road in jeans and jackets and hats, holding hands against the backdrop of fall foliage. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 29 Nov. 2023 And yes, that includes the leggings Jennifer Garner has, sculpting shapewear, and wear-anywhere jeans. Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 28 Nov. 2023 Erica Cole, 27, who lost her leg in a car accident, created jeans, leggings and other clothing designed for those with prosthetics or who are in a wheelchair. Lauren Debter, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 Suit Yourself Ribbed Long-Sleeve Turtleneck Bodysuit A long-sleeve turtleneck is a winter staple that pairs well with just about everything from jeans to skirts. Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 25 Nov. 2023 Jasso cued it up on a speaker hanging from his jeans, but the beat became increasingly hard to hear over the rain. Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Nov. 2023 Beyond comfort, the shoe’s sleek design which pairs perfectly with a range of outfits, from jeans to dresses, promises to catch eyes and turn heads. Poppy Morgan, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2023 For Fielder and Stone’s joint appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live promoting the series, the former showed up in some S-tier drip — big black coat, big black jeans, big black shoes, tight black beanie, and tiny black sunglasses (and a Cross necklace for good measure). Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 17 Nov. 2023 Contrast stitching and a dark wash, and ideally, in a set with matching jeans. Erika Veurink, Vogue, 17 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jean.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of jean was in 1567

Dictionary Entries Near jean

Cite this Entry

“Jean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jean. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

jean

noun
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"

More from Merriam-Webster on jean

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