tunic

noun

tu·​nic ˈtü-nik 

ˈtyü-

1

a

: a simple slip-on garment made with or without sleeves and usually knee-length or longer, belted at the waist, and worn as an under or outer garment by men and women of ancient Greece and Rome

b

: surcoat

2

a

: a hip-length or longer blouse or jacket

b

: a short overskirt

3

: a long usually plain close-fitting jacket with high collar worn especially as part of a uniform

4

: tunicle

5

: an enclosing or covering membrane or tissue

the tunic of a seed

Examples of tunic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Perhaps a slightly more oblique tribute to Giuseppe Garibaldi, the Italian general of the 1800s whose army’s red tunics inspired Forest’s own colours? —Nick Miller, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025

At the rehearsal for the Winter section of the dance, Elizabeth, dressed in her signature black tunic and slacks, counts to eight and with each number the nine dancers move in synch. —Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025

On Saturday morning, the puckish Bulgarian designer Kiko Kostadinov spooled out architectural overcoats, tunics that called to mind The Legend of Zelda and shirts stamped with Hungarian emblems. —Jacob Gallagher, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025

In the super-short boxy tweed tunics that had apparently replaced his favorite shorts. —Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Old English tunice, from Latin tunica, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew kuttōneth coat

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for tunic

• eunuch
• punic
• runic

Kids Definition

tunic

noun

tu·​nic ˈt(y)ü-nik 

1

: a usually belted knee-length garment worn by ancient Greeks and Romans

2

: a shirt or jacket reaching to or just below the hips

Medical Definition

tunic

noun

tu·​nic ˈt(y)ü-nik 

: an enclosing or covering membrane or tissue : tunica

the tunics of the eye