denim

noun

den·​im ˈde-nəm How to pronounce denim (audio)
1
a
: a firm durable twilled usually cotton fabric woven with colored warp and white filling threads
b
: a similar fabric woven in colored stripes
2
denims plural : overalls or trousers usually of blue denim
denimed adjective

Did you know?

Many fabrics have been named for the places where they were once made. Denim gets its name from Nîmes, a city in France famous for its textiles. But the name came about in an unusual way. The fabric, a heavy serge, was originally called serge de Nîmes, literally, “serge from Nîmes.” The “s” on Nîmes is not pronounced in French, so when the name of the fabric came into English, it was often written serge de Nim and later serge denim. In time, this was shortened to simply denim.

Examples of denim in a Sentence

He's wearing faded denims and cowboy boots.
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.
Brunson wowed in a colorful, matching crop top and skirt, while Anik looked effortlessly cool in a Gucci jacket, black denim and white sneakers. Kelsie Gibson, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025 The Beaucoup Bodysuit, made with rigid denim in a dark wash, mimics the look of a cropped jacket with exaggerated shoulders. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 20 Mar. 2025 And this collection, with its beautiful denim and elevated cool-girl basics, is the perfect canvas for accessorizing. Sarah Boyd, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 Pair a ruffled top with relaxed wide-leg denim for an effortless daytime look, or style a ruffled dress with knee-high boots and a leather jacket for a boho edge. Jailynn Taylor, Essence, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for denim

Word History

Etymology

French (serge) de Nîmes serge of Nîmes, France

First Known Use

1695, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of denim was in 1695

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Denim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/denim. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

denim

noun
den·​im ˈden-əm How to pronounce denim (audio)
1
: a firm durable twilled usually cotton fabric
2
plural : overalls or trousers of denim
Etymology

from French (serge) de Nîmes "serge (fabric) from Nîmes (city in France)"

Word Origin
Many fabrics have been named for the places where they were once made. Denim gets its name from Nîmes, a city in France famous for its textiles. But the name came about in an unusual way. The fabric, a heavy serge, was originally called serge de Nîmes, literally, "serge from Nîmes." The "s" on Nîmes is not pronounced in French, so when the name of the fabric came into English, it was often written serge de Nim and later serge denim. In time this was shortened to simply denim.

More from Merriam-Webster on denim

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