pants
pants
Pants (noun) means an outer garment covering the body from the waist down, with separate legs; trousers. Example: “He bought a new pair of pants for the interview.”
noun
1
An outer garment covering the body from the waist down, with separate legs; trousers.
"He bought a new pair of pants for the interview."
"These pants are too long, so I will have to turn up the bottoms."
"Do you think I should wear black pants or jeans tonight?"
2
An undergarment covering the lower body; underpants.
"I packed spare pants and socks in my bag for the weekend away."
"He bought three pairs of cotton pants in the shop near the station."
"She pulled on a clean pair of pants before getting dressed."
adj
1
Informal British slang for something of poor quality or disappointing.
"That film was absolute pants."
"The service at that cafe was pants, and the food arrived cold."
"I thought the new game was a bit pants, to be honest."
How to use pants
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTrousers (US) or underwear (UK) — the meaning flips depending on which side of the Atlantic you're on.
UK vs US
In American English "pants" means trousers; in British English it means underwear (trousers are called "trousers"). This causes constant transatlantic confusion.
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- pantses
- Past tense
- pantsed
- Comparative
- more pants
- Superlative
- most pants
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He bought a new pair of _____ for the interview.
Etymology
Shortened from "pantaloons," itself from the Italian stock character Pantalone, known for wearing tight trousers.
Related words
Rhymes for pants
See all rhymes for pants →Frequently asked questions
What does “pants” mean?
The word “pants” means an outer garment covering the body from the waist down, with separate legs; trousers. In plain terms, trousers (US) or underwear (UK) — the meaning flips depending on which side of the Atlantic you're on.
How do you pronounce “pants”?
“Pants” is pronounced pants (/pænts/ in IPA).
How do you use “pants” in a sentence?
Here is “pants” used in a sentence: “He bought a new pair of pants for the interview.”
What part of speech is “pants”?
Depending on how it is used, “pants” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “pants” come from?
The word “pants” comes from Italian. Shortened from "pantaloons," itself from the Italian stock character Pantalone, known for wearing tight trousers.
Is “pants” a common word?
“Pants” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “pants” have?
“Pants” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an outer garment covering the body from the waist down, with separate legs; trousers.
What is the difference between pants and trousers?
It is mainly a difference between American and British English. In American English, pants are the outer garment worn on the legs — what the British call trousers. In British English, trousers are the outer garment, and 'pants' usually means underwear. Context and country tell you which one is meant.
Does 'pants' mean underwear?
In British English, yes — pants normally means underwear, the item worn under trousers. In American English, pants means the outer leg garment, equivalent to trousers, and underwear goes by other names. So the same word points to very different clothing depending on which side of the Atlantic you are on.
Why is 'pants' plural?
Pants is treated as a plural noun even though it names a single garment, because it has two leg openings — like scissors, glasses, and shorts. You say 'these pants are' rather than 'this pants is', and count them with 'a pair of pants'. English keeps this plural form for many two-part items.
What are the types of pants?
There are many styles, including jeans, chinos, cargo pants, leggings, joggers or sweatpants, dress pants, and shorts, which are simply short pants. They differ in fabric, cut, and purpose — from formal tailored trousers to casual denim and sportswear — but all cover the lower body with separate legs.
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