What does elasticated mean?
Elasticated is an adjective describing items — most commonly articles of clothing — that have been made with an incorporated elastic or elastic-threaded section so they can stretch and then spring back into shape. An elasticated waistband, for instance, expands to fit the wearer comfortably without a belt or fastening. The word functions as the past participle of the verb 'to elasticate', meaning to fit something with elastic, but in practice it stands alone as an adjective in everyday speech. It appears overwhelmingly in British English; American speakers more often say 'elastic-waist' or simply 'stretchy'. The term carries a connotation of ease, comfort, and informality, being strongly associated with casual wear such as joggers, pyjamas, and skirts. Derived ultimately from the Greek root behind 'elastic', it is a small but telling example of how everyday garment vocabulary differs across varieties of English.
adjectiveMade with or incorporating elastic or elastic thread so that it can stretch and return to its original shape; typically describing clothing that fits by means of an elastic section.
- (Of clothing and fabric) fitted with an elastic or elastic-threaded section that allows it to stretch for comfort and fit.
"She slipped into her favourite pair of elasticated trousers after dinner."
"These joggers have an elasticated waistband that adjusts to your shape."
"The elasticated cuffs keep the sleeves snug against the wind."
That comfortable 'stretchy bit' in your waistband is so characteristically British that American English usually just says 'elastic-waist' instead of 'elasticated'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of elasticated
'Elasticated' derives from the verb 'elasticate', formed by adding the suffix '-ate' to 'elastic'. The word 'elastic' itself entered English in the seventeenth century from New Latin 'elasticus', ultimately rooted in Greek 'elastos' (ductile, flexible), related to the verb 'elaunein', meaning to drive or beat out. The derived adjective became widespread in twentieth-century British English alongside the growth of ready-to-wear clothing using elastic sections.
Related word forms
How elasticated is actually used
'Elasticated' is used almost exclusively attributively or predicatively to describe garments and household items; it is far more common in British English than in American English, where phrases like 'elastic waist' are preferred. It carries a neutral, practical connotation associated with comfort rather than formality — elasticated clothing is typically casual wear.
Easily confused with elasticated
'Elastic' describes the material itself (or figuratively, something flexible), while 'elasticated' specifically describes a garment or item that has been fitted or constructed with an elastic section.