singlet

noun sin·glet \ ˈsiŋ-glət \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Definition of singlet

[from its having only one thickness of cloth]

chiefly British : an athletic jersey; also : undershirt

2 : an atom or molecule that has no net electronic magnetic moment; also : an excited state of an atom or molecule that is a singlet

See singlet defined for English-language learners

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Recent Examples of singlet from the Web

The design team went back to 1990, showing everything from singlets printed with that year to flamboyant bodysuits to high-hiked shorts to some strong, less arena-appropriate and more street-ready separates like graphic jackets and sweatshirts.

— nick remsen, Vogue, "Li-Ning Is the Chinese Sportswear Brand You Need To Know," 21 June 2018
There were women with false eyelashes and fluffy tutus, and 70-year-olds in faded running club singlets.

— ryan lenora brown, The Christian Science Monitor, "South Africa's unlikely ultramarathoner helps others cross the finish line," 6 July 2018
The marquee poster features hunky star Aidan Turner, best known for his title role in the TV revival of Poldark, wearing a white singlet all the better to show off his sculpted biceps and cuddling an adorable (living) black pussycat.

— leslie felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The Lieutenant of Inishmore': Theater Review," 5 July 2018
The Schumachers have Jesuit on their singlets, the swoosh on their feet and running in their blood.

— OregonLive.com, "Entries out for NCAA regionals; Centro to run at Occidental: Oregon track & field rundown," 17 May 2018
During the process, free radicals and singlet oxygen are also formed and can inflict damage on cellular membranes, organelles, and proteins.

— lindsey murray, Good Housekeeping, "[UPDATED] Woman Claims She Received Horrific Burns After Using Essential Oils," 28 Apr. 2017
For sweaty runners like me, a tee, tank or singlet that can keep us from feeling soaked in the heat and humidity of summer is our Holy Grail.

— matt gross, WSJ, "The Best Shirts and Shorts for Keeping Sweaty Runners Dry," 7 June 2018
There’s a plaque honoring Prefontaine off of the downtown’s boardwalk and, two blocks south on U.S. 101, a three-panel Pre mural finished last year that shows him in his Marshfield High School, University of Oregon and 1972 U.S. Olympic singlets.

— andrew greif, OregonLive.com, "In intimate tour, Steve Prefontaine's sister shares iconic runner's life story, hometown," 25 May 2018
The equipment is cheap, and a wrestler needs only the one-piece suit, or singlet, and shoes, a manageable expense even for the poor shepherd families in the mountains.

— photographs and text by sergey ponomarev, New York Times, "A Wrestling Culture That Helps Keep Boys Away From Fighting," 18 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'singlet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of singlet

circa 1746

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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SINGLET Defined for English Language Learners

singlet

noun

Definition of singlet for English Language Learners

: a shirt that has no sleeves or collar and that is worn for playing sports

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Nglish: Translation of singlet for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about singlet

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singlet

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SINGLET Defined for English Language Learners

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