turtleneck

noun

tur·​tle·​neck ˈtər-tᵊl-ˌnek 

1

: a high close-fitting turnover collar used especially for sweaters

2

: a garment (such as a sweater) with a turtleneck

turtlenecked

ˈtər-tᵊl-ˌnekt 

adjective

Examples of turtleneck in a Sentence

She wore a turtleneck under her jacket.

Recent Examples on the Web

Bessette-Kennedy loved a black turtleneck, and since the weather is warming up, this sleeveless mock-neck top is a spring-friendly take on the elegant look. —Jordan Julian, InStyle, 7 Mar. 2026

Layering Act Swap your white turtleneck base layer for a purple one, because why not? —Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2026

Now is the perfect time to replace your heavy turtlenecks and wool pullovers with lighter, more layering-friendly cardigans. —India Roby, Glamour, 24 Feb. 2026

Pops of red added a fun yet classic vibe to jeans, from long coats and cropped utilitarian jackets to hints of a layered turtleneck. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 23 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing turtleneck

• mock turtleneck

Rhymes for turtleneck

• biotech
• bottleneck
• quarterdeck
• zapotec
• aztec
• breakneck
• codec
• exec
• mixtec
• paycheck
• pinchbeck
• recheck

Kids Definition

turtleneck

noun

tur·​tle·​neck -ˌnek 

1

: a high turned-over collar (as of a sweater)

2

: a garment (as a sweater) with a turtleneck