low-rise

adjective

ˈlō-ˈrīz 

1

: having few stories and not usually equipped with elevators

a low-rise apartment/office building

2

: of, relating to, or characterized by low-rise buildings

a low-rise housing development

3

: having a shorter than standard rise (see rise entry 2 sense 7)

low-rise jeans

The finishing touch of her ensemble then came in the form of "old school," low-rise brown suede … pants and coordinating brown leather boots.

—Claudia Miller

Jeans can also be OK … in some work environments, but not the "Saturday night jeans" that are low-rise and sexy.

—Paula Rath

Examples of low-rise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These low-rise flare pants offer all of the benefits of classic linen pants, but are designed with your comfort in mind. —Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026

Sizing up one size gave us an extra-baggy, extra-low-rise fit. —Genevieve Cepeda, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026

The low-rise, jogger-style bottoms have elasticized ankle cuffs to keep them from puddling on an airport bathroom floor. —Boutayna Chokrane, Wired News, 3 Mar. 2026

One of the package’s most controversial items — a rule that would have required softer transitions from high-rise housing to low-rise housing and open space — was eliminated last week by Planning Director Heidi Vonblum. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined at sense 1