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

Poshmark reported that searches for flare and wide-leg jeans are up 26 percent, while searches for barn jackets and horse sweaters have climbed 147 percent and 139 percent, respectively. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 21 Nov. 2024

This one has drop shoulders with exposed seams, a ribbed collar, and slouchy silhouette that looks perfect over everything from skinny jeans to wide-leg pants. —Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024

Paltrow and Sheryl Crow were among those who spread the gospel of Imogene + Willie jeans, whose origins go back to its 12 South workshop and retail store. —Jessica Ritz, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2024

The National Retail Federation says that import surcharges could soar to 50% for everything from jeans to couches. —Melvin Backman, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024

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"