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 are filthy; her blonde hair hangs in loose, greasy strings; bruises speckle her thin arms, and there’s a patch of blood above her right eye. —Outside, 10 Mar. 2026

The minimalist leather design pairs easily with everything from jeans to casual dresses, while the cushioned sole and built-in arch support help keep feet comfortable through long sightseeing days. —Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026

The deep olive color is unlike anything else in my closet and pairs effortlessly with black pants or light-wash jeans—a recent favorite of Kendall Jenner. —Michelle Baricevic, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026

Des Phemmes stacked waistbands and belts on bottoms and Blumarine added an overlay of chain jewelry to its low-rise jeans. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 9 Mar. 2026

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

Rhymes for jean

• bean
• bein
• bien
• bouin
• chine
• clean
• deen
• diene
• gene
• glean
• keen
• lien

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"