underwear

noun

un·​der·​wear ˈən-dər-ˌwer 

: clothing or an article of clothing worn next to the skin and under other clothing

Synonyms of underwear

• panties
• pants
• undergarments
• undies
• underclothes
• underclothing
• pajamas
• unmentionables
• lingerie

Examples of underwear in a Sentence

he had been sleeping in his underwear so he had to put a robe on before answering the door

Recent Examples on the Web

Icon Cotton Stretch combines comfort, support and timeless design across a range of signature Calvin Klein underwear silhouettes. — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2026

So, for the new study, the scientists turned to what are, in effect, contraction-tracking underwear. — Gretchen Reynolds, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2026

Others gifted each other with durable underwear to protect their bodily autonomy postmortem. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Oct. 2026

In another image, Kidman stripped off her jeans for a dip, sitting in a shallow pool wearing her black underwear set and luxe jewelry. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing underwear

• change of underwear
• in one's underwear
• long/thermal underwear
• long underwear

Rhymes for underwear

• aftercare
• anywhere
• billionaire
• chinaware
• debonair
• dinnerware
• disrepair
• doctrinaire
• earthenware
• everywhere
• frigidaire
• kitchenware

Kids Definition

underwear

noun

un·​der·​wear ˈən-dər-ˌwa(ə)r 

-ˌwe(ə)r

: clothing or an article of clothing worn next to the skin and under other clothing