jersey

noun

jer·​sey ˈjər-zē 

plural jerseys

1

a

: any of various close-fitting usually circular-knitted garments especially for the upper body

b

: an often loose-fitting shirt that is worn by a member of a sports team as part of a team uniform and that typically has the athlete's name and number on the back

a football jersey

2

: a plain weft-knitted fabric made of wool, cotton, nylon, rayon, or silk and used especially for clothing

3

Jersey : any of a breed of small short-horned predominantly yellowish brown or fawn dairy cattle noted for their rich milk

Examples of jersey in a Sentence

The dress is made of cotton jersey.

Recent Examples on the Web

Some players preferred their shoulder pads to cling more snugly to their jersey, so Ryan applied double-sided tape to both. — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 24 July 2026

After all, nothing stands out in a sea of matching jerseys than a pair of flashy kicks, especially when the woman wearing them had a hand in their design. — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 24 July 2026

For any soccer fans missing the hype of the World Cup, now is the best time to buy new jerseys and other memorabilia from this year’s competition at a deep discount. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 24 July 2026

The team also presented Trump with a Dodgers jersey and a World Series ring, prompting the president to joke about the gift. — Adisa Hargett-Robinson, The Washington Examiner, 23 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Jersey, one of the Channel Islands

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

jersey

noun

jer·​sey ˈjər-zē 

plural jerseys

1

: a plain knitted fabric

2

: a close-fitting knitted garment (as a shirt)

3

capitalized : any of a breed of small usually light tan dairy cattle having short horns and noted for their rich milk

Geographical Definition

Jersey

geographical name

Jer·​sey ˈjər-zē 

1

island in the English Channel; one of the Channel Islands; capital Saint Helier area 45 square miles (117 square kilometers)

Note: The Jersey breed of cattle, the knit fabric called jersey, and the types of upper-body garments called jerseys all derive their names from this island.

2

new jersey

—an informal name

Jerseyan

ˈjər-zē-ən 

noun

Jerseyite

ˈjər-zē-ˌīt 

noun