pants

1 of 2

noun

ˈpan(t)s 

1

or less commonly pant

ˈpant 

chiefly US : an outer garment covering each leg separately and usually extending from the waist to the ankle

a pair of pants

wearing short/long pants

—often used before another noun

a pants leg

—sometimes used in the singular form pant especially before another noun and in clothing catalogs

a pant leg

a classic khaki pant

2

chiefly British : men's underpants

3

: pantie

pants

2 of 2

verb

pantsed; pantsing; pantses

transitive verb

US, informal : to yank down the pants of (someone) as a prank or joke

Sandler plays Dave Buznik, a Brooklyn-born wimp, a patsy, a schlemiel so mild-mannered he makes other people want to pants him.

—Lisa Schwarzbaum

"I was standing on the corner with my friends and we saw some girls we knew from school," recalled Robert Alicea … "They were walking past when my friend decided it would be funny to pants me. The girls started yelling and pointing—it was horrible!"

—Greg Downing

Phrases

with one's pants down

US, informal

: in an embarrassing position (as of being unprepared to act)

Synonyms

Noun

• breeches
• britches
• pantaloons
• slacks
• trousers

Word History

Etymology

Noun

short for pantaloons

Verb

derivative of pants entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1945, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pants

• ants in one's pants
• beat the pants off
• by the seat of one's pants
• capri pants
• cargo pants
• fancy-pants
• harem pants
• hot pants
• keep your pants on
• pants suit
• parachute pants
• seat-of-the-pants
• smarty-pants
• snow pants
• stirrup pants
• tap pants
• the pants off
• wear the pants
• yoga pants

Kids Definition

pants

plural noun

ˈpan(t)s

1

: an outer garment extending from the waist to the ankle and covering each leg separately : trousers

2

: underpants

especially : pantie

Etymology

Plural noun

a shortened form of pantaloons "trousers," from Pantaloon, Pantalone, name of a clown in stage entertainment

Word Origin

A form of comic entertainment that had its start in Italy became popular throughout Europe several hundred years ago. A small group of actors would put on a play with a standard set of humorous characters. One character was a bad-tempered old man called Pantalone or Pantaloon. Pantaloon always wore tight-fitting trousers and stockings. Such clothing became known as pantaloons. The word pantaloons was later used for various types of trousers and is still sometimes heard today. The usual term now, however, is pants, which is short for pantaloons.