What does garment mean?
A garment is a piece of clothing, such as a shirt, dress, jacket, or coat. The word is especially common in formal writing and in the clothing and textile industries, where “garment factory,” “garment worker,” and “garment industry” are established expressions. It can sound more precise than the broader word “clothing,” because it usually refers to one individual item rather than clothing collectively. In older and literary English, garment is also a verb meaning to clothe or dress someone. Although the word may sound traditional, it remains useful in discussions of fashion, manufacture, labor, and textile production. Its history also connects it to related English words such as garnish and garrison through the Old French tradition of equipping, furnishing, or clothing.
An item of clothing, such as a shirt, dress, coat, or pair of trousers.
"The tailor measured each garment carefully."
Common in formal contexts and the clothing industry; often refers to one individual item rather than clothing collectively.
To clothe or dress someone.
"The ceremony garbed the children in traditional clothing."
Literary or archaic; more often encountered in formal or historical writing than in everyday speech.
The standard plural form for multiple items of clothing.
"The designer's garments are made from recycled fabrics."
From an Old French word for an outfit, garment grew into today's familiar label for a single item of clothing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does garment come from?
The English word comes through Old French forms such as garniment or garnement, related to garnir, “to furnish, equip, or clothe.” Its relatives include English garnish, garrison, and the legal term garnishee, which reflect the older idea of furnishing, protecting, or arming. In Middle English, garment could refer to clothing or an outfit before the modern sense of an individual item of clothing became established.
Related word forms
How garment is actually used
As a noun, garment is formal or elevated in many contexts, though it is also standard in the clothing industry. As a verb, it is literary or archaic and means to clothe or dress someone.
Easily confused with garment
A garment is a piece of clothing, whereas a garnet is a deep-red gemstone.