underwear

noun

un·​der·​wear ˈən-dər-ˌwer 

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

Synonyms

• 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

Last month, Larsson said Calvin Klein’s new Icon Cotton Stretch underwear, backed up by a high-profile campaign blitz featuring Bad Bunny, drove a 25 percent increase in revenues. —Evan Clark, Footwear News, 1 July 2025

The same year, officials asked three boys playing in the juniors tournament to change their underwear, which had become visible beneath their shorts. —Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

In another case, detectives say Thompson recorded an 11-year-old girl’s underwear at a trampoline park during his own child’s birthday party. —Michael Moore Jr, Miami Herald, 26 June 2025

Besides, this type of underwear is loosely accepted as a form of shorts these days. —Bianca Lambert, Glamour, 24 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1870, 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