denim
DEH-nihm
Denim (noun) means a sturdy cotton fabric woven with a diagonal pattern, commonly used for jeans. Example: “She wore a denim jacket over her t-shirt.”
noun
1
A sturdy cotton fabric woven with a diagonal pattern, commonly used for jeans.
"Fabrics: Gamine fabrics are informal as possible. For sports: tweeds, flannels, suedes, cottons, and denims;"
— Omnibook (1938)
"She wore a denim jacket over her t-shirt."
"The factory produces several weights of denim for different garments."
How to use denim
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe tough, often blue, cotton fabric that jeans are made from.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
denim jacket
pair of denim jeans
raw denim
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Word forms
- Plural
- denims
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She wore a _____ jacket over her t-shirt.
Etymology
From the French phrase de Nîmes, "from Nîmes," the French town where the fabric was first made.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “denim” mean?
The word “denim” means a sturdy cotton fabric woven with a diagonal pattern, commonly used for jeans. In plain terms, the tough, often blue, cotton fabric that jeans are made from.
How do you pronounce “denim”?
“Denim” is pronounced DEH-nihm (/ˈdɛnəm/ in IPA).
How do you use “denim” in a sentence?
Here is “denim” used in a sentence: “She wore a denim jacket over her t-shirt.”
What part of speech is “denim”?
“Denim” is a noun.
Where does the word “denim” come from?
The word “denim” comes from French. From the French phrase de Nîmes, "from Nîmes," the French town where the fabric was first made.
Is “denim” a common word?
“Denim” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
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