noun B1 Intermediate Uncommon

jumper

JUHM-puh

Quiz me More like this

Jumper (noun) means British English: a knitted sweater or pullover worn over a shirt. Example: “She pulled on a warm woollen jumper before heading out.”

noun

British English: a knitted sweater or pullover worn over a shirt.

"She pulled on a warm woollen jumper before heading out."

"He wore a grey jumper over his shirt on the cold morning."

"My nan knitted me a bright red jumper for Christmas."

American English: a sleeveless dress, often worn over a blouse.

"The schoolgirl wore a plaid jumper with a white blouse underneath."

"In the old photo, she is wearing a navy jumper over a striped top."

"The store had a corduroy jumper in her size, ideal for autumn."

A short wire or connector used to complete or bridge an electrical circuit.

"The technician set a jumper on the circuit board to enable the extra port."

"Move the jumper to the second pair of pins to change the setting."

"Without the jumper in place, the circuit stays open and the device will not start."

How to use jumper

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWhat you call it depends on where you are: in the UK it's a sweater; in the US it's a type of sleeveless dress.

UK vs US

This is a classic British/American mismatch — a British "jumper" and an American "jumper" are completely different garments.

Easily confused with

sweater →

Vocabulary Flow

Build your vocabulary from words like jumper.

Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.

Start vocabulary practice

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: jumpers
Third person singular: jumpers
Past tense: jumpered

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

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She pulled on a warm woollen _____ before heading out.

Etymology

From the term jump (“short coat”) + -er, originally in sailors' jargon, ultimately of uncertain origin. Jump is possibly from Scottish English jupe (“man's loose jacket or tunic”), from Middle English juype, gype, joupe, from Old French jupe, juppe, from Arabic جُبَّة (jubba); see also jibba. Cognate with Middle Low German jōpe, gōpe (“waistcoat, jacket”), German Joppe (“jacket”). Alternatively, perhaps derived from jump.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

View more →

pullover sweater pinafore shunt pinny

Related words

jersey bypass sweater pinafore pullover shunt slipover

Rhymes for jumper

bumper thumper

See all rhymes for jumper →

Frequently asked questions

What does “jumper” mean?

The word “jumper” means british English: a knitted sweater or pullover worn over a shirt. In plain terms, what you call it depends on where you are: in the UK it's a sweater; in the US it's a type of sleeveless dress.

How do you pronounce “jumper”?

“Jumper” is pronounced JUHM-puh (/ˈd͡ʒʌmpɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “jumper” in a sentence?

Here is “jumper” used in a sentence: “She pulled on a warm woollen jumper before heading out.”

What part of speech is “jumper”?

“Jumper” is a noun.

Is “jumper” a common word?

“Jumper” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “jumper” have?

“Jumper” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: british English: a knitted sweater or pullover worn over a shirt.

What is the difference between a jumper in British English and American English?

In British English, a jumper is a knitted sweater or pullover worn over a shirt. In American English, a jumper instead refers to a sleeveless dress typically worn over a blouse, so the same word describes two quite different garments depending on the country.

What is a jumper in electronics?

In electronics, a jumper is a short wire or connector used to complete or bridge an electrical circuit, often used to configure hardware settings on circuit boards.

Is jumper the same as sweater?

In British English, jumper and sweater are essentially interchangeable terms for a knitted upper-body garment. American English generally uses "sweater" for this garment and reserves "jumper" for the sleeveless dress instead.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include jumper:

Words that start with J

People also searched

jersey bypass sweater pinafore pullover shunt slipover