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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

cardigan

KAH-dih-guhn

Cardigan (noun) means a knitted sweater that opens down the front and fastens with buttons or a zipper. Example: “She pulled on a cardigan as the evening turned cool.”

noun
1
A knitted sweater that opens down the front and fastens with buttons or a zipper.
"She pulled on a cardigan as the evening turned cool."

How to use cardigan

Learner’s notes
Common pairings
knitted cardigan button-up cardigan

Word forms

cardigans plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She pulled on a _____ as the evening turned cool.

Etymology

Named after James Brudenell, the 7th Earl of Cardigan, a British military commander of the 1800s.

· First attested 1800

Class of 1800 cardigan joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →

Rhymes for cardigan

See all rhymes for cardigan →

Frequently asked questions

What does “cardigan” mean?

The word “cardigan” means a knitted sweater that opens down the front and fastens with buttons or a zipper.

How do you pronounce “cardigan”?

“Cardigan” is pronounced KAH-dih-guhn (/ˈkɑːdɪɡən/ in IPA).

How do you use “cardigan” in a sentence?

Here is “cardigan” used in a sentence: “She pulled on a cardigan as the evening turned cool.”

What part of speech is “cardigan”?

“Cardigan” is a noun.

Where does the word “cardigan” come from?

The word “cardigan” dates back to around 1800. Named after James Brudenell, the 7th Earl of Cardigan, a British military commander of the 1800s.

Is “cardigan” a common word?

“Cardigan” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial