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

As of last September, the group's biggest needs were women's dress clothes in size extra large, along with new socks, underwear and bras. — Frankie McLister, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026

At July’s Functional Fabric Fair in New York, Hyosung also presented a capsule collection pairing the material with Lenzing’s Tencel fiber across activewear, sportswear, denim, underwear and swimwear applications. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026

On Christmas Day 2009, a passenger on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 tried to detonate explosives hidden in his underwear as the plane approached Detroit. — ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026

The Skims founder freed the nipple while wearing nothing but silver chains and nude underwear in one photo. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 7 Sep. 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