What does brassiere mean?
A brassiere is a woman's undergarment designed to support and shape the breasts. It typically consists of two cups joined by straps and a band fastened around the torso, and it may be constructed from a wide variety of materials ranging from cotton to lace to synthetic performance fabrics. In ordinary conversation most English speakers simply say 'bra', leaving 'brassiere' for more formal registers — product catalogues, medical discussions, historical writing, or legal texts. The garment emerged in recognizable form in the early twentieth century, gradually displacing the corset, and has since become both a mundane wardrobe staple and, at times, a cultural symbol, notably during debates over dress norms and gender politics. Varieties include strapless, sports, nursing, and underwire styles, each engineered for different activities or garments. Despite its everyday familiarity, the full word retains a slightly formal flavour, making it useful precisely when a neutral, non-colloquial term is required.
nounA woman's undergarment that supports the breasts.
- A woman's undergarment worn to support the breasts.
"She bought a new brassiere to wear under her evening dress."
"The department store had an entire aisle devoted to brassieres in every size and style."
"In the 1960s, some feminists famously protested by publicly discarding their brassieres."
The plural follows standard English noun formation; it is used when referring to multiple garments, such as in retail inventory or laundry contexts.
"The store stocked dozens of brassieres in a range of sizes and colours."
The word 'brassiere' comes from the French word for a child's arm band or life jacket — a far cry from its modern use.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of brassiere
The word 'brassiere' was borrowed from French in the early twentieth century, entering American English around the 1910s as the modern garment was being developed and marketed. In French, 'brassière' originally referred to a small arm band or shoulder strap worn by children or soldiers, derived from 'bras', meaning 'arm', which traces back to Latin 'bracchium'. The shift from 'arm support' to 'breast support' reflects how the garment's straps were understood when the term was adopted into English. A related borrowing is 'brazier', which comes from a different French source but shares a superficial resemblance that occasionally causes confusion.
How brassiere is actually used
In everyday speech, 'bra' is far more common than 'brassiere', which now sounds somewhat formal or old-fashioned. 'Brassiere' appears mainly in retail, medical, or historical contexts. The word is sometimes abbreviated informally as 'B.H.' (from 'brassière') in older British usage, though this is dated.
Easily confused with brassiere
A brazier is a container for burning coals or an outdoor grill, while a brassiere is a woman's breast-supporting undergarment.