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.
As for their mom, the actress wore a brown turtleneck blouse with a mustard pencil skirt. Dayna Haffenden, People.com, 11 June 2025 The winning film, Total Pixel Space by Jacob Adler, is a jumble of both realistic and impossible vivid landscapes like a flying pig, people floating in a city or inside a pool, a bloom of jellyfish and a meerkat donning a bright yellow turtleneck. Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025 These days, Maxwell is still doing what he’s always done but in smooth turtlenecks, long coats in soft colors, and suits in pastel shades that glow under stage lights. Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 10 June 2025 Instead, think of it as the base for endless styling possibilities: It can be layered with everything from a turtleneck to a button-down shirt to an oversized hoodie. Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 3 Apr. 2025 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 30 Jun. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!