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underwear

noun
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un·​der·​wear | \ ˈən-dər-ˌwer How to pronounce underwear (audio) \

Definition of underwear

: clothing or an article of clothing worn next to the skin and under other clothing
Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about underwear

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Examples of underwear in a Sentence

underwear has got to be the most boring thing that one could ever receive as a birthday present!
Recent Examples on the Web The next day, the mom-to-be shared a series of shots in her underwear from a recent photo shoot that gave an even closer look at her bump. — Christina Oehler, Health.com, "Iskra Lawrence’s Nude Video Gives Fans a Close-Up Look at Her Growing Baby Bump," 27 Nov. 2019 As soon as the door opened, the police dog’s handler sicced his canine on Martinez, lying in his underwear on the floor. — Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, "WATCH: Lafayette police used K9 to attack unconscious man in his underwear, lawsuit says," 21 Nov. 2019 Thomas was found in a parking lot in his underwear with a gunshot wound in his left calf, the report stated. — Ricky Pinela, orlandosentinel.com, "Florida woman arrested for robbery and shooting that left a man without pants: report," 5 Nov. 2019 Pictures of a young woman in her underwear amid the ruins of a dilapidated synagogue in Romania didn’t sit well with activists trying to preserve Jewish heritage. — Cnaan Liphshiz, sun-sentinel.com, "Lingerie photos taken in dilapidated former synagogue in Romania draws outrage," 31 Oct. 2019 The teen was treated for his injury and ran out of the hospital in his underwear and socks, according to a police report. — Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, "Prosecutors: Man with gun permit won’t be charged in shooting that injured 15-year-old in St. Paul," 15 Oct. 2019 The next, the test subjects might be clad only in underwear in the cold. — Rachel S. Gross, The Atlantic, "The Military Origins of Layering," 15 Sep. 2019 But after a passenger attempted to blow up a plane in 2009 with plastic explosives hidden in his underwear, the agency began using full-body scanners. — ProPublica, "When Transgender Travelers Walk Into Scanners, Invasive Searches Sometimes Wait on the Other Side," 26 Aug. 2019 The boxes bound for Uganda include clothing, toiletries such as baby wipes, bars of soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, underwear, shoes and blankets. — Yvette Orozco, Houston Chronicle, "Pasadena, Deer Park, La Porte early education centers build alliance of charity," 10 Dec. 2019

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

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First Known Use of underwear

1870, in the meaning defined above

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Time Traveler for underwear

Time Traveler

The first known use of underwear was in 1870

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Statistics for underwear

Last Updated

7 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Underwear.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underwear. Accessed 19 January 2020.

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More Definitions for underwear

underwear

noun
How to pronounce underwear (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of underwear

: clothing that is worn next to your skin and under other clothing

See the full definition for underwear in the English Language Learners Dictionary

underwear

noun
un·​der·​wear | \ ˈən-dər-ˌwer How to pronounce underwear (audio) \

Kids Definition of underwear

: clothing worn next to the skin and under other clothing

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More from Merriam-Webster on underwear

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for underwear

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with underwear

Spanish Central: Translation of underwear

Nglish: Translation of underwear for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of underwear for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about underwear

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