jean

noun

ˈjēn 

plural jeans

1

: a durable twilled cotton cloth used especially for sportswear and work clothes

2

usually jeans

ˈjēnz 

: pants usually made of denim or jean

… strolling with royal puppy Lupo through Kensington Gardens near the couple's two-bedroom cottage in a pair of jeans and rain boots.

—Alicia Dennis et al.

Millions of people today buy designer jeans for double the price of equally durable generic jeans …

—Jared Diamond

see also blue jeans, mom jeans

Examples of jean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Her jeans elevated the entire outfit, turning her loungewear look into a polished getup without sacrificing comfort. —Clara McMahon, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025

The pants have a jean look with a faux fly, side and back pockets and rivet details. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 16 Jan. 2025

Chalamet modeled a leather jacket by the French fashion house, layering it over a white T-shirt and Isabel Marant jeans. —Hannah Malach, WWD, 16 Jan. 2025

Take those designer jeans (thank you very much!) and lay them on a baking sheet. —Julie Sharbutt, The New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

short for jean fustian, from Middle English Gene Genoa, Italy + fustian

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing jean

• jean shorts

Kids Definition

jean

noun

ˈjēn 

1

: a heavy cotton cloth used especially for sportswear and work clothes

2

plural : pants made of jean, denim, or corduroy

Etymology

a shortened form of earlier jean fustian, literally "a fustian (heavy cotton cloth) from Genoa," from Middle English Gene "Genoa, Italy"