What does crewneck mean?
A crewneck is a sweater, sweatshirt, or other top characterized by a round, close-fitting, collarless neckline that sits snugly at the base of the neck. The word can refer either to such a garment as a whole or, more narrowly, to the neckline style itself. Crewnecks are among the most common and versatile knitwear styles, prized for their simplicity and suitability for layering over collared shirts or under jackets. The term derives from its association with rowing crews, whose athletic sweaters traditionally featured this rounded neckline; from collegiate and sporting contexts it spread into general casual wear. In modern usage, 'crewneck' frequently appears attributively — as in crewneck sweater, crewneck sweatshirt, or crewneck tee — and is a staple descriptor in retail and fashion writing. It stands in contrast to other neckline styles such as the V-neck, turtleneck, and scoop neck, and remains a neutral, widely understood term in both British and American English.
nounA garment, especially a sweater, having a round neckline that fits closely at the base of the neck; also the round neckline itself.
- A sweater or sweatshirt with a round, close-fitting, collarless neckline.
- The round neckline itself.
"She wore a plain grey crewneck over a white collared shirt."
"He pulled on a navy crewneck before heading out into the cold."
"The design team preferred a classic crewneck to a V-neck for the new line of sweatshirts."
Regular plural, used when referring to multiple crewneck garments.
"The store stocks crewnecks in every color of the season."
The crewneck got its name from rowing crews, whose team sweaters featured the now-classic round neckline.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of crewneck
The word crewneck combines 'crew', referring originally to a rowing team, with 'neck', denoting the neckline of the garment. It arose in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century in connection with the sweaters worn by university rowing crews, whose team garments typically had this round, ribbed collar. As athletic knitwear entered everyday fashion, the term broadened to describe any garment with the same neckline style. Related compounds such as 'V-neck', 'turtleneck', and 'scoop neck' follow the same pattern of naming a garment by its neckline shape.
How crewneck is actually used
Common in everyday and fashion contexts; often used attributively before 'sweater', 'sweatshirt', or 'tee'. The term is especially associated with casual American sportswear. Sometimes styled as two words ('crew neck').
Easily confused with crewneck
A V-neck has a neckline cut in the shape of the letter V, whereas a crewneck has a round collarless neckline.