shorts
shawts
Shorts (noun) means Trousers cut off above the knee, worn in warm weather or for sport. Example: “It was so hot that everyone in the office came to work in shorts.”
noun
1
Trousers cut off above the knee, worn in warm weather or for sport.
"It was so hot that everyone in the office came to work in shorts."
"He wore shorts and a t-shirt to the beach."
"The team's new shorts arrived just before the match."
2
Underpants, especially in some regional usage.
"He packed a few pairs of shorts for the trip."
How to use shorts
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishShort trousers, or (in some dialects) underpants.
Common pairings
a pair of shorts
gym shorts
boxer shorts
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like shorts.
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
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was so hot that everyone in the office came to work in _____.
Etymology
From short + the plural suffix -s.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for shorts
See all rhymes for shorts →Frequently asked questions
What does “shorts” mean?
The word “shorts” means trousers cut off above the knee, worn in warm weather or for sport. In plain terms, short trousers, or (in some dialects) underpants.
How do you pronounce “shorts”?
“Shorts” is pronounced shawts (/ʃɔː(ɹ)ts/ in IPA).
How do you use “shorts” in a sentence?
Here is “shorts” used in a sentence: “He wore shorts and a t-shirt to the beach.”
What part of speech is “shorts”?
“Shorts” is a noun.
Is “shorts” a common word?
“Shorts” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “shorts” have?
“Shorts” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: trousers cut off above the knee, worn in warm weather or for sport.
Are shorts singular or plural?
Shorts is grammatically plural and always takes a plural verb: "these shorts are too small", not "this shorts is". Like trousers and jeans, it has no everyday singular form, so a single garment is counted as "a pair of shorts".
Why do you say "a pair of shorts" for one item of clothing?
English traditionally treats two-legged garments, such as trousers, jeans, tights and shorts, as pairs because they have two matching leg parts. "A pair of shorts" is therefore the standard way to refer to one garment, and "two pairs of shorts" to two.
Can shorts mean underwear?
Yes, in some regional usage shorts refers to underpants, especially men's loose-fitting underwear such as boxer shorts. Context normally makes clear whether outer clothing or underwear is meant.
What is the difference between shorts and trousers?
Shorts are cut off above the knee and are worn in warm weather or for sport, while trousers cover the full leg. Note the regional trap with related words: in American English "pants" means trousers, but in British English "pants" usually means underwear.
