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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

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.
"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 notes

In plain EnglishThe tough, often blue, cotton fabric that jeans are made from.

Common pairings
denim jacket pair of denim jeans raw denim

Word forms

denims plural

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Test yourself on “denim” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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.

Origin: French

jean dungaree blue jean

Related words

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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