What does activewear mean?
Activewear is a noun referring to clothing specifically designed for sports, exercise, and other forms of physical activity. Typical items include leggings, shorts, sports bras, tank tops, and track jackets, usually made from stretchy, breathable, moisture-wicking synthetic fabrics such as polyester blends and spandex. The word functions as an uncountable noun, taking singular verbs, and appears most often in retail, fitness, and fashion contexts — as in 'the brand launched a new activewear line'. It is closely related to but distinct from athleisure, which describes athletic-style clothing worn as casual everyday fashion rather than for working out. Activewear rose to prominence in the late twentieth century alongside the growth of gym culture and technical fabric innovation, and it remains a major commercial category today. Its connotations are practical and health-oriented, suggesting movement, comfort, and an active lifestyle rather than formality or occasion dressing.
nounClothing designed to be worn for sports, exercise, and other physical activity, typically made from stretchy, moisture-wicking fabrics.
- Clothing designed and worn for sports, exercise, or other physical activity.
"She packed her activewear before heading to the gym for a morning workout."
"The store's activewear section features leggings, sports bras, and breathable tops."
"He invested in a few good pieces of activewear after committing to a running routine."
Activewear is a mass noun with no plural form; quantities are expressed as 'pieces of activewear' or by naming specific garments.
"The boutique stocks a wide range of activewear for yoga and running."
The rise of activewear helped blur the line between the gym and the street so thoroughly that an entire fashion category — athleisure — was invented just to describe clothes that never see a treadmill.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of activewear
Activewear is a compound of 'active', from Latin 'activus' meaning disposed to action (itself from 'agere', to do or drive), and 'wear', from Old English 'werian', meaning to clothe oneself. The compound follows the pattern of earlier terms such as underwear and swimwear. It emerged in English during the twentieth century as participation in organized fitness and sport expanded and specialized garments were developed for those activities.
How activewear is actually used
Activewear is an uncountable noun used mainly in retail, fitness, and fashion contexts; it carries a modern, commercial register rather than a formal one. It is treated as a mass noun, so it takes singular verbs ('activewear is'), though individual garments are referred to as 'pieces of activewear'. The term became widespread in the late twentieth century as technical performance fabrics entered mainstream fitness culture.
Easily confused with activewear
Athleisure refers to athletic-style clothing worn casually outside of exercise settings, whereas activewear is clothing intended for actually working out in.
Sportswear can also mean casual fashion influenced by athletic style, while activewear specifically denotes garments made for physical activity.