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

Interestingly, Downs will now wear the same jersey number as his brother, Ohio State standout safety Caleb Downs, who is likely to be one of the top picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. —Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025

Adoring fans wearing Dodger caps and jerseys and carrying signs screamed their approval as the buses went by. —Steve Futterman, NPR, 4 Nov. 2025

The line spans ready-to-wear pieces such as knitwear, jersey tops and denim, as well as accessories like canvas totes and variations of the Bou bag. —Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 4 Nov. 2025

Malone owns an Aubrey jersey and got the kicker to autograph it last year. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2025

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