turtleneck

noun

tur·​tle·​neck ˈtər-tᵊl-ˌnek How to pronounce turtleneck (audio)
1
: a high close-fitting turnover collar used especially for sweaters
2
: a garment (such as a sweater) with a turtleneck
turtlenecked adjective

Examples of turtleneck in a Sentence

She wore a turtleneck under her jacket.
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.
Meghan wore a white turtleneck, her hair worn down in loose curls; Harry—who, like Meghan, could only be seen from the waist up in the video—wore a white button-down under a dark suit jacket. Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 27 Feb. 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 And that no one will ever figure out how to wear a turtleneck that way again? Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for turtleneck

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of turtleneck was in 1897

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Turtleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turtleneck. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

turtleneck

noun
tur·​tle·​neck -ˌnek How to pronounce turtleneck (audio)
1
: a high turned-over collar (as of a sweater)
2
: a garment (as a sweater) with a turtleneck

More from Merriam-Webster on turtleneck

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