What does cami mean?
A cami is a short, sleeveless top for women, typically cut from light, fluid fabrics like silk, satin, or cotton and often finished with delicate details such as lace or spaghetti straps. It functions both as underwear — worn beneath sheer garments, blazers, or knitwear to provide modesty and smooth lines — and as outerwear in warm weather or relaxed settings. The word is an informal abbreviation of 'camisole', and it dominates fashion retail and everyday conversation, where brevity is valued. The garment itself descends from a long lineage of underclothing: 'camisole' entered English from French, ultimately tracing back through Late Latin 'camisia', the same source that produced the chemise. Today the cami is a wardrobe staple prized for its versatility, layering equally well beneath structured tailoring and over denim, and it carries connotations of femininity, ease, and understated style.
nounA cami is a loose-fitting sleeveless top for women, typically made of lightweight fabric such as silk or cotton and often worn under a blouse or as casual wear; it is a common shortening of 'camisole'.
- A short sleeveless women's top or undergarment, usually of light fabric, worn on its own or as a layering piece; an informal abbreviation of 'camisole'.
"She layered a lace-trimmed cami under her blazer for a touch of softness."
"She packed three silk camis for the summer trip."
"The boutique's best-seller was a simple black lace cami."
The standard plural simply adds -s; it is widely used in fashion retail contexts.
"She folded her collection of camis neatly into the drawer."
'Cami' is just 'camisole' wearing a nickname — and both trace back to the same Latin root that gave us 'chemise', the humble shirt.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cami
The word 'cami' is a clipped form of 'camisole', which entered English from French in the nineteenth century. The French term derives from 'camise' meaning shirt or smock, itself descending from Late Latin 'camisia', a linen undergarment. This same root gave rise to the chemise, making the cami part of a family of words all describing close-fitting body garments.
How cami is actually used
Informal register, chiefly used in fashion retail and everyday speech; the full form 'camisole' is preferred in formal writing.
Easily confused with cami
A camisole is the full-length term for the garment, while 'cami' is simply its informal abbreviated form.
A chemise is a longer, looser historical undergarment or shift, whereas a cami is a short modern top ending at the waist or hips.