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

The jeans and tank top approach to heatwave dressing is nothing new. —Olivia Allen, Vogue, 15 July 2025

The wide-leg silhouette gives them an almost trouser-like look that is perfect for blending in during European travels, and these jeans manage to be incredibly comfortable while still looking polished and intentional—a difficult feat in the denim world. —Alexis Benveniste, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2025

Both Kendrick and Edelman kept things casual on the Burbank outing in jeans, white T-shirts and sneakers. —Bailey Richards, People.com, 13 July 2025

Its classic look can pair with everything from upscale dresses to casual jeans and your favorite sandals. —Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 12 July 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

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"