underwear

noun

un·​der·​wear ˈən-dər-ˌwer 

: clothing or an article of clothing worn next to the skin and under other clothing

Synonyms

• panties
• pants
• undergarments
• undies
• underclothes
• underclothing
• pajamas
• unmentionables
• lingerie

Examples of underwear in a Sentence

he had been sleeping in his underwear so he had to put a robe on before answering the door

Recent Examples on the Web

The rapper pleaded not guilty after he was accused of charging at Los Angeles police officers while roaming the streets of Studio City in his underwear and a pair of cowboy boots in a disconcerted state. —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025

The post also included a photo of her taking a selfie, wearing a black sports bra and white underwear. —EW.com, 29 Aug. 2025

Dressed in their underwear, the two boys are then moved into the family’s kitchen, which is splattered with blood stains. —Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025

The model’s three photos include increasingly closer shots of her butt in the underwear. —Charna Flam, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing underwear

• change of underwear
• in one's underwear
• long/thermal underwear
• long underwear

Rhymes for underwear

• aftercare
• anywhere
• billionaire
• chinaware
• debonair
• dinnerware
• disrepair
• doctrinaire
• earthenware
• everywhere
• frigidaire
• kitchenware

Kids Definition

underwear

noun

un·​der·​wear ˈən-dər-ˌwa(ə)r 

-ˌwe(ə)r

: clothing or an article of clothing worn next to the skin and under other clothing