1
: a garment for the upper part of the body: such as
a
: a cloth garment usually having a collar, sleeves, a front opening, and a tail long enough to be tucked inside trousers or a skirt
2
: all or a large part of one's money or resources
lost his shirt on that business deal
shirtlessness noun

Examples of shirt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Elordi himself opted to wear Bottega Veneta, sporting a navy, softly pinstriped double-breasted suit with sharp lapels and coordinating tailored pants, a white shirt, and navy skinny tie. Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2026 What followed was a sponsorship boom that put crypto brands on shirts, around stadiums and alongside some of the biggest clubs in the game. Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026 This shirt dress offers the same polished vibe with flowy, easy comfort. Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Aug. 2026 Among the items available are sundresses and dresses for homecoming, after-5 and mother-of-the-bride; dress pants and shirts; ties; and school performance attire. Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shirt

Word History

Etymology

Middle English shirte, from Old English scyrte; akin to Old Norse skyrta shirt, Old English scort short

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shirt was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shirt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shirt. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

Kids Definition

1
: a garment for the upper part of the body usually with a collar, sleeves, a front opening, and a tail long enough to be tucked inside pants or a skirt
2

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