noun
Common
jean
jeen
Jean (noun) means a sturdy cotton twill fabric, now more commonly known by its plural form "jeans.". Example: “The jacket was made of heavy blue jean.”
noun
1
A sturdy cotton twill fabric, now more commonly known by its plural form "jeans."
"The jacket was made of heavy blue jean."
"The factory still weaves a tough jean for work trousers."
"Old sailors wore coats of rough jean in the cold."
How to use jean
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe denim-like fabric that gave its name to modern jeans.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- jeans
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The jacket was made of heavy blue _____.
Etymology
From an old English name for Genoa, Italy, where a similar coarse cotton cloth was originally produced.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for jean
See all rhymes for jean →Frequently asked questions
What does “jean” mean?
The word “jean” means a sturdy cotton twill fabric, now more commonly known by its plural form "jeans.". In plain terms, the denim-like fabric that gave its name to modern jeans.
How do you pronounce “jean”?
“Jean” is pronounced jeen (/d͡ʒiːn/ in IPA).
How do you use “jean” in a sentence?
Here is “jean” used in a sentence: “The jacket was made of heavy blue jean.”
What part of speech is “jean”?
“Jean” is a noun.
Where does the word “jean” come from?
The word “jean” comes from Old English. From an old English name for Genoa, Italy, where a similar coarse cotton cloth was originally produced.
Is “jean” a common word?
“Jean” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between "jean" and "jeans"?
"Jean" refers to the sturdy cotton twill fabric itself, used as an uncountable material noun, while "jeans" is the plural word for the trousers made from it. Today "jeans" is far more common, and "jean" as a fabric term is fairly technical.
What is the difference between jean and denim?
Both are cotton twill fabrics, but they differ in weave: denim is woven with a coloured warp and white weft, while jean fabric is traditionally woven with threads of a single colour throughout. The trousers we call jeans are usually made from denim rather than jean cloth.
Why is "jean" usually seen in the plural as "jeans"?
Because trousers have two legs, the garment is treated as a plural like "trousers" or "scissors," so people say "a pair of jeans." The singular "jean" survives mainly as the name of the fabric itself.
Can "jean" be used as an adjective?
Yes, "jean" can modify a noun to mean "made of jean or denim fabric," as in "a jean jacket" or "jean skirt." In this use it functions much like the word "denim."
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