jean

noun

plural jeans
1
: a durable twilled cotton cloth used especially for sportswear and work clothes
2
usually jeans : 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 jeansJared Diamond
see also blue jeans, mom jeans

Examples of jean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Work bags from The Row and Saint Laurent; exceptional vintage leather jackets and jeans; cool, comfy sneakers from Adidas x Wales Bonner. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 1 July 2025 The result gives your look an effortless dose of cool when tucked into anything from black jeans to colorful wide-leg trousers. Clint Davis, People.com, 1 July 2025 The brand, known for its versatile styling and layering of blazers and dickeys, plus jeans, shoes and accessories, has built a reputation as a contemporary fashion label that can dress the modern working woman. Emma Sandler, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025 The best Nordstrom Anniversary Sale deals, at a glance Best Nordstrom Anniversary Sale clothing deals So many summer staples, including tank tops, trendy jeans, vacation dresses, and one-piece swimsuits, are currently marked down ahead of the brand’s biggest sale of the year. Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for jean

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of jean was in 1567

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jean. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

jean

noun
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"

More from Merriam-Webster on jean

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